i   f      f        w  ' 


BX  8495    .F57  H64  1842 
Holdich,  Joseph,  1804-1893. 
The  life  of  Willbur  Fisk 


THE  LIFE 


•  or 

WILLBUR    FISK,  D.D., 

FIRST    PRESIDENT    OF    THE   WE  S  L  E  YA  N  UNIVERSITY. 


BY 

■J 

JOSEPH  HOLDICH. 


"  Here  and  there  is  found  one  who  admits  the  religion  of  Heaven  in  its  own 
manner,  and  imbibes  its  sublimity  and  beauty  without  detriment,  and  glorifies 
God,  the  giver  of  all,  by  displaying  the  triple  nobility  of  Nature,  Culture,  and 
Faith." — Taylor's  Saturday  Evening. 

"  whose  faith  follow."— Heb.,  xiii.,  7. 


NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED    BY    HARPER    &  BROTHERS, 

NO.  82  CLIFF-STREET. 


1  84  2. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1842,  by 
Mrs.  R.  Fisk, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut 


PREFACE. 


The  biographer  of  Dr.  Fisk  submits  the  result  of  his  labour 
to  the  judgment  of  the  Christian  public  with  unfeigned  diffi- 
dence. This  feeling  is  occasioned  partly  by  a  natural  dis- 
trust of  his  own  abilities,  and  partly  by  his  experience  of  the 
difficulties  of  the  undertaking.  ^ 

Those  who  are  at  all  skilled  in  authorship  well  know  that 
historical  and  biographical  composition  is  peculiarly  perplex- 
ing and  laborious ;  and  it  will  be  obvious  to  all,  on  very 
slight  reflection,  that  the  labour  of  writing  a  biography  de- 
pends very  much  on  the  diversity  in  the  character  and  rela- 
tions of  the  subject,  for  in  proportion  to  these  will  be  the 
demand  on  the  author's  resources,  judgment,  and  skill.  Had 
Dr.  Fisk's  life  been  devoted  entirely,  or  even  chiefly,  to  one 
pursuit,  had  his  character  possessed  interest  in  only  a  single 
aspect,  or  were  his  biography  to  have  been  adapted  to  any 
selected  class  of  refers,  the  writer's  task  would  have  been 
comparatively  easy.  But  the  life  of  any  man  should  be  in 
accordance  wirfi  his  entire  character  and  pursuits.  In  this 
lay  the  difficulty  of  our  present  undertaking.  To  depict 
correctly  the  diversified  character  of  our  subject ;  to  trace 
his  connexion  with  the  many  important  enterprises  in  which 
he  was  concerned ;  to  give  to  each  of  these  its  relative  prom- 
inence and  just  proportion;  to  adapt  the  work  to  the  various 
classes  in  the  community  who  may  be  supposed  to  take  an 
interest  in  our  subject;  to  present  a  just  account  of  his  share 
in  the  controversies  in  which  he  was  engaged,  without  giving 
needless  offence  to  those  who  differed  from  him,  were  some 


iv 


PREFACE. 


of  the  duties  which  rendered  the  author's  task  one  of  more 
than  ordinary  delicacy,  and  required  no  little  thought  and 
labour. 

One  topic  suggested  above  deserves,  perhaps,  to  be  made 
a  little  more  prominent.  Dr.  Fisk  was  a  man  of  erudition 
and  literature,  and,  as  such,  was  connected  with  the  republic 
of  letters.  On  the  other  hand,  he  was  not  less  the  man  of 
the  people.  To  have  written  his  book  exclusively  for  the 
former  would  not  have  been  satisfactory  to  the  latter,  and  to 
have  written  it  entirely  for  the  latter  would  have  displeased 
the  former,  while  in  neither  case  would  he  have  been  true  to 
his  subject's  memory.  Whether  the  writer  have  succeeded 
in  harmonizing  these  conflicting  claims  must  be  left  for  the 
reader  to  deteimine  ;  but  he  wishes  that  this  view  of  the 
subject  may  be  kept  in  mind  in  deciding  on  the  nature  and 
merits  of  the  woik. 

A  word  or  two  may  be  proper  on  another  topic.  It  was 
impossible  to  do  justice  to  the  character  of  Dr.  Fisk  without 
entering  somewhat  upon  the  history  of  the  controversies 
which  occupied  much  of  his  attention.  In  doing  this,  his 
biographer  has  endeavoured  to  maintain  a  suitable  liberality 
towards  the  parties  concerned.  Although  it  has  been  his 
aim  to  exhibit  his  subject's  views  rather  than  his  own,  yet 
in  some  cases  he  has  given  his  own  in  presenting  those  of  his 
subject;  but  in  doing  this,  it  has  been  his  aim  to  write  of 
opinions  and  systems  rather  than  of  persons.  Like  his  sub- 
ject, the  biographer  has  many  valuable  friends  on  both  sides 
of  the  various  questions  treated  on  in  his  work,  none  of  whom 
he  would  willingly  offend.  He  trusts  that  he  will  not  have 
done  so.  Nevertheless,  if  he  should  have  been  so  unfortu- 
nate, the  only  apology  he  can  make  is,  truth  first,  and  friend- 
ship afterward.  The  author  is  aware,  however,  that  he  has 
been  led  to  present  a  few  names  to  the  reader  in  a  rather  un- 
favourable light.    The  principle  he  has  gone  on  in  this  was, 


PREFACE. 


V 


never  to  do  so  except  where  it  was  necessary  to  vindicate  his 
subject,  or  only  where  the  person  had  given  his  own  name  to 
the  public  in  a  manner  calculated  to  injure  Dr.  Fisk.  This 
is  perfectly  fair,  and  the  persons  concerned  can  have  no 
right  to  complain.  He  that  ventures  an  assault  upon  an- 
other, should  expect  the  natural  consequences  of  his  own 
action. 

To  some  it  may  appear,  as,  indeed,  it  has  often  been  re- 
marked, that  Dr.  Fisk's  life  was  destitute  of  incident.  If 
by  incident  be  meant  merely  physical  action,  such  incident, 
that  is,  as  constitutes  the  burden  of  a  romance,  consisting 
of  thrilling  adventure, 

"Of  hair-breadth  escapes  in  the  imminent  deadly  breach," 

or 

■  Of  moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field," 
it  may,  to  a  certain  extent,  prove  true ;  but  even  of  this  his 
life  was  far  from  being  destitute,  especially  in  the  days  of  his 
itinerancy.  But  if  by  incident  be  included  those  transac- 
tions which  show  the  mental  and  moral  character,  and  espe- 
cially such  as  are  connected  with  the  welfare  of  human  be- 
ings and  the  honour  of  our  common  Saviour,  we  think  his 
life  will  not  be  found  deficient  in  incident  ;  how,  indeed, 
could  it  be,  connected  as  he  was  with  so  many  important 
transactions  ?  Most  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  the  day 
shared  in  his  labours,  and  in  several  of  them,  as  education, 
temperance,  missions,  and  religion  in  general,  he  was  looked 
up  to  as  a  controlling  mind.  He  was  eminently  a  practical 
man,  and,  as  such,  his  whole  life  was  full  of  incident  relating 
either  to  the  intellect  or  to  the  heart.  It  has  been  the  aim 
of  the  biographer  to  present  a  correct  view  of  his  subject's 
labours  in  these  several  departments,  and  especially  as  he 
was  satisfied  that  upon  these,  next  to  a  delineation  of  his 
personal  piety  and  individual  character,  most  of  the  interest 

and  instruction  of  this  volume  must  depend.    How  far  he 
1* 


Vi 


PREFACE. 


has  succeeded  in  doing  justice  to  this  portion  of  his  work, 
the  public  must  determine  ;  but,  at  any  rate,  he  has  the  grati- 
fication of  feeling  that  he  has  spared  no  pains  to  render  it 
as  satisfactory  as  the  materials  within  his  reach  would  allow. 

Does  the  reader  demand  from  me  any  explanation  of  my 
assuming  the  responsible  task  of  preparing  Dr.  Fisk's  biog- 
raphy ?  Possibly  he  may  ;  and,  if  so,  he  may  please  to  ac- 
cept the  following  : 

When  Dr.  Fisk's  illness  assumed  an  alarming  appearance, 
some  of  his  friends  suggested  to  him  the  propriety  of  naming 
a  biographer.  At  first  he  declined,  saying  that  nothing  could 
be  said  of  him ;  but,  on  being  urged,  he  saw  fit  to  designate 
me,  a  nomination  in  which  they  concurred.  I  was  at  this 
time  away  from  home,  it  being  our  long  vacation.  As  soon 
as  I  heard  of  his  danger,  I  hastened  back  without  delay,  and, 
on  receiving  information  of  the  selection  which  had  been 
made,  I  lost  no  time  in  conversing  with  him  on  the  subject. 
He  was  then  so  far  gone  that  he  spoke  with  great  difficulty. 
All  his  communications  to  me  were  made  with  his  usual 
modesty.  He  said  he  had  kept  no  journal,  had  very  few 
papers  relating  to  himself,  and  his  letters  were  so  much  of  a 
business  character  that  but  few  of  them  would  be  of  service 
in  a  memoir,  and  that  he  did  not  know  that  I  should  find 
enough  to  make  anything  more  than  an  article  for  a  periodi- 
cal. He  concluded  with  committing  the  whole  to  my  judg- 
ment and  determination.  I  also  inquired  if  he  had  any  man- 
uscripts that  could  be  printed.  He  replied,  in  substance, 
none  ready  for  the  public  eye,  nor  anything  sufficiently  ad- 
vanced to  be  completed  by  another.  At  the  same  time,  he 
expressed  a  desire  that  it  might  be  thought  advisable  to 
compile  a  small  volume  from  his  published  works  that  might 
sell  for  the  benefit  of  his  family,  as  he  left  them  very  inade- 
quately provided  for. 

I  was  also  assured  by  Mrs.  Fisk  that  she  approved  the  se- 
lection of  a  biographer. 


PREFACE. 


vii 


To  me  this  was  a  very  onerous  trust ;  and,  in  addition,  it 
seriously  interfered  with  my  own  plans  and  arrangements. 
Nevertheless,  under  the  circumstances,  I  did  not  feel  at  lib- 
erty to  decline.  A  regard  for  the  memory  of  a  great  and 
good  man,  and  for  those  he  left  behind  him,  whom  I  hoped 
to  benefit,  and  who,  consequently,  receive  an  interest  in  this 
work ;  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  Church  and  to  the  public,  and 
the  hope  of  promoting  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  interests  of 
religion  and  philanthropy,  were  the  motives,  if  I  know  my 
own  heart,  which  induced  me  to  engage  in  the  undertaking. 

Complaints  have  reached  us  from  different  parts  of  the 
country  about  the  delay  of  this  work,  which  render  some 
explanation  on  our  part  necessary. 

The  reader  is  already  aware  that  at  Dr.  Fisk's  death  there 
were  scarcely  any  materials  out  of  which  to  construct  a  biog- 
raphy. He  ought  to  know,  also,  that  what  there  were  did 
not  come  into  my  hands  until  six  months  after  Dr.  Fisk's 
death.  On  examination,  I  found  that  I  had  not  even  then 
what  would  justify  the  undertaking.  I  used  every  exertion, 
by  public  advertisements  and  private  applications,  to  supply 
the  deficiency,  tut  did  not  satisfactorily  succeed.  Hence  I 
was  obliged  to  undertake  a  journey  to  Vermont,  and  to  Dr. 
*  Fisk's  early  fields  of  labour,  in  quest  of  information ;  but  this 
I  could  not  do  until  the  summer  vacation  of  1840.  Hence 
I  was  not  prepared  to  commence  writing  the  work  until  Au- 
gust or  September  of  that  year,  and  then  a  great  portion  of 
what  is  now  incorporated  in  it  had  not  been  received.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  the  materials  had  to  be  procured 
from  every  part  of  the  country.  Thus  a  great  deal  came  to 
hand  after  I  had  got  past  the  place  to  which  it  belonged. 
The  discerning  reader  will  easily  see  how  all  this  increased 
the  perplexity  and  labour  of  the  biographer.  Very  consid- 
erable portions  of  the  work  had  to  be  rewritten  and  remod- 
elled. 


viii 


PREFACE. 


Considering  these  things,  and  that  the  whole  has  been 
prepared  for  the  press,  and  the  proof-sheets  corrected  in 
about  nineteen  months,  amid  the  indispensable  duties  of  a 
laborious  station,  the  candid  reader  will  judge  whether  there 
has  been  any  culpable  tardiness  in  the  execution  of  the 
work.  The  author  is  more  apprehensive  of  blame  on  the 
opposite  score. 

One  other  point,  perhaps,  demands  a  passing  word.  It 
was  sometimes  said  in  Dr.  Fisk's  lifetime,  that,  by  his  friends, 
he  was  spoken  of  in  terms  of  extravagant  eulogy.  To  avoid 
this  charge,  his  biographer  has  endeavoured  to  keep  his  mind 
and  feelings  in  a  subdued,  impartial  frame ;  instead  of  de- 
scribing his  subject,  he  has  endeavoured,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  present  him  to  the  reader  in  his  own  words  and  actions, 
confident  that  the  highest  eulogy  is  to  show  him  as  he  really 
was  ;  and,  having  thus  taken  all  the  care  he  could  to  draw 
out  and  fairly  illustrate  each  distinctive  feature,  he  has  de- 
clined the  task  of  formally  summing  up  his  character  at  the 
close  of  the  volume.  Such  descriptions  as  he  thought  really 
necessary  to  give  completeness  to  his  sketch,  he  has  prefer- 
red interspersing  through  the  work.  He  trusts  that  this 
method  will  not  prove  unsatisfactory  to  his  readers. 

I  cannot  close  this  preface  without  returning  my  grateful 
acknowledgments  to  the  numerous  friends  to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  papers,  information,  and  counsel  in  the  prep- 
aration of  this  work.  Their  assistance  was  indispensable. 
The  work  could  not  have  been  prepared  without  it.  I 
would  gladly  render  them  my  acknowledgments  by  name, 
but  the  number  is  too  great  to  allow  of  mentioning  all,  and 
to  name  a  few  only  might  seem  invidious.  I  must,  there- 
fore, .content  myself  with  this  general  expression  of  my 
gratitude. 

The  author's  task  is  now  done,  how  successfully  is  not  for 
him  to  decide.    Considering  the  character  of  the  work,  it 


PREFACE. 


IX 


would,  perhaps,  be  too  much  to  expect  that  it  should  prove 
satisfactory  to  all ;  but  he  may  be  allowed  to  observe,  that 
any  strictures  that  may  be  made  upon  it  in  the  spirit  of  a 
liberal  friendship,  shall  in  a  like  spirit  be  received  :  and  for 
the  rest,  he  can  only  say  that  he  has  written  in  view  of  his 
responsibility  to  his  Church,  his  conscience,  and  his  God. 
As  he  has  deeply  felt  his  need,  so  he  has  earnestly  sought 
the  Divine  guidance  in  the  progress  of  his  labours ;  and, 
now  that  the  work  is  closed,  to  the  Divine  blessing  he  com- 
mends it,  in  earnest  hope  and  fervent  prayers  that  it  may  be 
serviceable  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  of  spiritual  Christianity. 
Wesleyan  University,  April,  1842. 

B 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Introductory  Remarks   .  .17 

Parentage         .........  18 

Birth  and  Early  Education   19 

Youthful  Piety   22 

Academy  at  Peacham   26 

Religious  Declension   27 

Collegiate  Career  28-37 

CHAPTER  II. 

Studies  Law      .........  38 

Mental  Conflict   39 

Views  of  the  Ministry       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  41 

Residence  in  Maryland        .......  42 

Sickness   ..........  44 

Returns  Home     .........  ib. 

Reclaimed  .45 

Called  to  Preach   46 

Ministerial  Qualifications   51 

Exercises  on  Preaching   57 

CHAPTER  III. 

Craftsbury  Circuit   59 

Incidents   60 

Letters     ..........  63 

Charlestown   66 

Pious  Resolutions   68 

Christian  Perfection   69 

Correspondence        .       .       .              .       .       .       .  76 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Charlestown  continued        .......  86 

Calumny   88 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

'  Page 

Sickness  89 

State  of  Mind   90 

Returns  to  Vermont  92 

Letters  91-93 


Sketch  of  Character  94-96 

CHAPTER  V. 

Indisposition  . 
Letters 

Prosperity  of  Religion 
Resumes  Preaching 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Education  113 

Incident  at  Brattleborough  116 

Dedication  Sermon  at  Danville        .       .       .       .  .117 

Origin  of  Zion's  Herald  118 

Letters  118-128 

Marriage  129 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Dialogue   131 

Universalism        .........  ib. 

Presiding  Elder   133 

Conduct  in  his  Office   135 

Letters   136 

Incidents      ..........  142 

Traits  of  Character   143 

General  Conference  of  1S24    145-152 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Presiding  Elder  continued        ......  151 

Incident       ..........  ib. 

Letters  of  Condolence   153 

Mysticism    ..........  156 

General  Lafayette   157 

Perilous  Incident         ........  158 

Aid  to  Young  Ministers    .       .       .       .       .       .  .161 

Traits  of  Character   162 

Noble  Conduct   163 


97 

98-102 
109 
.  110 


CONTENTS. 


Xiii 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Wesleyan  Academy  at  Wilbraham   164 

Removal  to  Wilbraham  .  165 

Government  of  the  School   167 

Revival   169 

Election  Sermon  at  Montpelier,  Vt   170 

Embarrassments  of  the  Institution   173 

Era  of  Good  Feeling   174 

Theological  Class   179 

CHAPTER  X. 

Journey  to  Pittsburgh — Niagara  Falls  .....  184 

General  Conference  of  1828    186 

Joshua  Randell's  Appeal      .       .       .       .    '   .       .       .  ib. 

On  the  Death  of  Bishop  George  190 

Amusing  Anecdote       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  .191 

Election  Sermon  in  Boston,  Mass  192 

Honours  Conferred  ib. 

X  Elected  Bishop  of  Canada,  and  Declines  ....  193 

Made  Doctor  of  Divinity  197 

Letters     ..........  ib. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Controversy  202 

Freemasonry     .........  ib. 

Universalism  204 

J  The  Temperance  Reformation  ......  ib. 

Sermon  on  the  Law  and  the  Gospel     .....  213 

Letter  of  Rebuke  214 

Official  Conduct  216 

Conversation    .       .  217 

CHAPTER  XII. 

I  Wesleyan  University  218 

Elected  President  221 

Letters        .       .  222 

Sermon  on  Predestination  and  Election   ...»  228 

Valedictory  at  Wilbraham  229 

Inaugural  Address  at  Middletown  233 

Occupations        .........  237 

Letters  m  239 

v  Address  on  Temperance      .......  242 


xiv 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Page 

Predestination  and  Election  245 

General  Conference  of  1832    24.7 

Pew  Question  248 

Incident    ..........  ib. 

Literary  Convention — Study  of  the  Bible  in  Colleges  .       .  250 

Letter  from  Rev.  Richard  Watson  254 

Honours  Conferred  256 

Correspondence  257 

Ecclesiastical  Union     ........  271 

Address  on  Temperance  272 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Mission  to  Liberia  274 

Translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  the  Mohawk  Lan- 
guage   ..........  ib. 

Oregon  Mission  275 

Calvinistic  Controversy  285 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Official  Conduct   294 

Disinterestedness      ........  295 

State  of  Religion  in  the  University   296 

Effect  of  his  Exertions  on  his  Health       ....  299 

Death  of  Judge  Deming       .......  300 

Efforts  in  behalf  of  Education   301 

Theological  Education         .......  305 

Education  Society   310 

Eternal  Punishment  believed  by  the  Jews    .       .       .  .317 

Writings  and  Literature   319 

Mode  of  Instruction   321 

Intercourse  with  the  Students   322 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Abolition  Controversy  324 

Unauthorized  Transformation  325 

Speech  before  the  American  Union  329 

African  Colonization  331 

Ability  as  a  Speaker  332 

Address  before  the  Bible  Society  in  1835  .  .  .  333 
Dr.  Fisk  as  a  Preacher  335 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Prepares  for  his  European  Tour  338 

Correspondence    .........  339 

Honour  Conferred   343 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Voyage  to  Europe       ........  344 

Arrival  at  Liverpool  and  Dover        .....  347 

Occupations  in  Paris  348 

Letter  from  Pisa  349 

Rev.  Pierce  Connelly  ,   .       .  353 

Unity  of  the  Church  354 

Letter  from  Florence  to  a  Lady  .       .       .       .       .  .361 

Letter  from  Milan  to  Professor  Johnston  ....  363 

Remarks  on  the  Tour  in  Italy  367 

Returns  to  England  370 

Painful  Incidents  371 

British  Wesleyan  Conference  373 

Visits  Ireland  and  Scotland  .......  374 

Separation  of  Christian  Friends  375 

Remarks  on  his  Travels  in  England  376 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Voyage  to  New- York  383 

The  "  Roscoe  Herald"  385 

Arrival  at  New-York        .       .       .       .       .       .       .  386 

Return  to  Middletown  387 

Declines  Consecration  to  the  Episcopal  Office  .       .       .  388 

Resumes  his  Duties   .391 

Christian  Union  392 

Revival  in  Middletown  393 

Colleges  and  Academies  •  394 

Theological  Education  396 

Correspondence   397 

Mr.  Aaron  C.  Bangs  398 

Unpleasant  Occurrence — Hon.  J.  G.  Birney  .  .  .  400 
Dr.  Fisk  writes  and  publishes  his  Travels  ....  403 
His  Views  of  the  Abolition  Controversy  ....  ib. 
Writings  on  the  Subject       .......  405 

New-England  Conference  of  1838    406 

State  of  Health  407 

End  of  the  Controversy 

An  Advocate  of  Temperate  Measures  408 


xvi 


CONTENTS. 


Correspondence  408 

Fourth  of  July  Oration   414 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Commencement-day  of  1838    416 

Faithful  Admonition        .       •  419 

Traits  of  Character  421 

Decline  of  Health  425 

Visits  New- York  426 

Continues  his  Labours  427 

Centenary  of  Methodism  ib. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Rapid  Decline  of  Health  436 

Last  Sickness     .........  ib. 

Scenes  in  his  Chamber   437-453 

Death  454 

Conclusion  455 


LIFE 

OF  THE 

REV.   WILLBUR   F  I  S  K,   D.  D. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Parentage. — Birth  and  Early  Education. — Youthful  Piety. — Academy  at 
Peacham. — Religious  Declension. 

In  a  country  where  "  nature,  culture,  and  grace"  issue  the 
only  patents  of  nobility,  the  subject  of  pedigree  can  never 
be  one  of  great  social  importance.  Nevertheless,  such  is  the 
power  of  association,  that,  when  an  individual  rises  to  dis- 
tinction, we  find  ourselves  spontaneously  inquiring,  What 
was  his  origin  ?  Who  were  his  progenitors  ?  Nor  is  the 
inquiry,  in  a  moral  and  philosophical  point  of  view,  entirely 
destitute  of  reason.  Upon  these  things  depend,  in  a  good 
degree,  the  first  elements  of  character,  and  the  earliest  in- 
centives to  excellence.  Human  virtue,  it  is  true,  is  not  ne- 
cessarily traditive  ;  yet  we  instinctively  look  for  some  cor- 
respondence between  the  race  and  the  individual,  between 
the  sire  and  the  son.  We  naturally  expect  a  fair  scion  from 
an  excellent  stock.  In  no  other  point  of  view  is  the  ques- 
tion of  genealogy  of  any  weight :  for  no  earthly  distinctions 
can  ennoble  the  morally  vile  ;  while  he  that  inherits  quali- 
ties that  dignify  any  name,  may  look  down  with  indifference 
upon  those  adventitious  distinctions  that  may  belong  alike  to 
the  worthy  and  the  unworthy,  to  the  good  and  the  bad. 

These  remarks  apply  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  His 
ancestors  were  illustrious  only  for  their  virtues.  He  enjoyed 
few  advantages  that  are  not  within  reach  of  the  great  bulk 
of  the  middle  class  of  people  in  the  United  States.  He  was, 
properly  speaking,  a  self-made  man.    Yet  his  talents,  his 

C 


18 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


virtues,  his  energy,  and,  above  all,  his  deep  and  fervent 
piety,  which  purified  his  affections,  sweetened  his  disposi- 
tion, and  harmonized  all  his  faculties,  raised  him  to  an 
eminence,  and  secured  him  an  influence,  which  very  few 
attain.  We  trust  that  his  example,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
will  awaken  in  many  hearts  aspirations  after  similar  excel- 
lence. 

When  the  interest  of  a  life  consists,  in  any  considerable 
degree,  in  its  moral  and  intellectual  aspects,  parentage  and 
early  education  are  not  unworthy  our  attention.  These  ex- 
ert an  important  influence  over  the  future  man.  The  child 
is  the  man  in  embryo,  morally  and  intellectually  as  well  as 
physically  ;  and  whatever  helps  to  mould  the  child  is  fraught 
with  interest  to  the  student  of  human  character  and  destiny. 
This  must  be  our  excuse,  if  we  need  any,  for  entering  with 
some  particularity  into  the  parentage  and  early  education  of 
our  subject. 

Willbur  Fisk  was  born  at  Brattleborough,  in  the  State  of 
Vermont,  on  the  31st  day  of  August,  1792.  His  parents 
were  Isaiah  and  Hannah  Fisk.  He  was  descended  in  both 
lines  from  that  noble  class  of  men  who  sought  on  the  "  wild 
New-England  shore"  "  freedom  to  worship  God."  The 
first  settlers  in  the  paternal  line  were  two  brothers,  named 
Benjamin  and  Samuel,  who  established  themselves  in  Rhode 
Island.  Family  tradition  says  that,  the  former  was  governor 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  ;  the  latter,  from  whom  our 
subject  descended,  was  a  practising  physician.  In  that 
quaint  but  learned,  and,  in  many  respects,  interesting  work, 
Mather's  Magnalia,  mention  is  made  of  a  Rev.  John  Fisk, 
who,  in  company  with  a  younger  brother,  emigrated  to  the 
New  World  in  1637.  He  was  followed  by  two  other  broth- 
ers. There  is  some  ground  for  supposing  that  these  were 
the  above-named  Benjamin  and  Samuel  Fisk,  and,  if  so,  it 
identifies  our  subject  with  a  very  virtuous  and  worthy  race. 
A  strong  family  likeness,  at  any  rate,  exists  between  them. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Isaiah  Fisk  in  his  earlier  life  owned  and 
commanded  a  coasting  vessel,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  rendered  his  occupation  too  precari- 
ous.   He  then  sold  his  vessel,  and  bought  lands  in  Guild- 


PARENTAGE. 


19 


ford,  Vermont,  the  town*  adjoining  Brattleborough,  where 
he  ultimately  settled  his  family. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Fisk's  maiden  name  was  Bacon.  Her 
grandfather  Bacon  came  from  England  with  his  brother, 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Bacon,  who  was  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  Her  mother's  name  was  Will- 
bur.f  She  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Mann,  first  minister  of  the  town  of  Wrentham,  in  connexion 
with  which  he  is  mentioned  in  Barber's  Historical  Collec- 
tions of  Massachusetts.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Isaiah 
Fisk  on  the  second  of  March,  1786. 

Willbur,  named  after  his  maternal  grandmother,  was  the 
second  of  three  children,  of  whom  the  youngest,  a  boy,  died 
in  his  fourth  year,  and  the  eldest,  Mary,  is  married,  and  re- 
sides near  her  parents.  From  his  birth  he  was  a  child  of  af- 
fliction, being  troubled  with  a  scrofulous  complaint,  which  at 
three  months  old  dried  up,  and  left  behind  it  that  peculiar 
cough  which  continued  with  him  ever  after. 

He  exhibited  great  precocity  of  mind  and  aptitude  at 
learning.  A  relative,  who  had  the  charge  of  his  early  edu- 
cation, informs  me  that  "  she  always  found  him  a  very  amia- 
ble, dutiful,  vigilant  scholar,  always  early  to  school  and  in 
his  place.  He  never  failed  to  get  his  lesson  correctly  and 
cheerfully,  and  was  always  kind  and  peaceable  among  his 
school-fellows."  She  never  "  knew  him  speak  a  disrespect- 
ful word  to  superiors,  inferiors,  or  equals."  It  was  also  re- 
marked that  he  was  not  like  a  child  in  his  behaviour.  His 
understanding,  his  turn  of  thought,  and  his  conversation, 
were  dignified  beyond  his  years. 

It  was  a  blessing  to  be  the  son  of  such  parents  as  Dr. 
Willbur  Fisk's.  We  might  feel  some  delicacy  in  saying 
much  of  them  during  their  lifetime,  but  they  have  now  at- 
tained an  age  when  they  can  be  but  little  affected  by  the 
voice  of  praise  or  censure.  They  have  long  accustomed 
themselves  to  consult  the  approbation  of  One  whose  favour 
is  of  infinitely  greater  moment  than  the  approbation  of  a 

*  A  town  in  New-England  corresponds  with  what  in  some  of  the  states  is  de- 
nominated a  township, 
t  This  is  the  proper  mode  of  spelling  the  name. 


20 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


fellow-mortal.  They  stand  with  their  lamp  trimmed  and 
burning,  ready,  whenever  called,  to  enter,  without  fear,  into 
"  the  land  of  darkness  and  shadow  of  death." 

By  an  unfortunate  connexion  in  business  in  early  life, 
Judge  Fisk  was  stripped  of  his  patrimony  ;  but  by  industry 
and  frugality  he  accumulated  sufficient  for  the  purchase  of 
new  land  farther  in  the  interior.  He  accordingly  settled  in 
Lyndon,  Caledonia  county,  within  about  forty  miles  of  the 
Canada  line.  In  this  county  he  has  resided  ever  since,  re- 
spected and  beloved  by  all  who  know  him.  He  has  receiv- 
ed repeated  proofs  of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
He  has  filled  various  important  civil  offices.  For  many 
years  he  was  chief-justice  of  the  County  Court,  when  the 
office  was  more  important  than  it  is  now  under  the  revised 
Constitution.  He  was  not  less  than  seventeen  years,  at  in- 
tervals, a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  twice  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Censors.*  Besides 
these,  he  has  filled  various  local  offices,  involving  more  care 
and  responsibility  than  emolument.  Yet  he  has  remained 
comparatively  poor,  where  many  would  have  amassed  a  for- 
tune* It  was  his  maxim  that  no  man  ought  to  enrich  him- 
self on  the  spoils  of  the  public  :  a  maxim  which,  through  life, 
he  has  carried  to  a  romantic  extreme. 

Judge  Fisk  and  his  excellent  wife  are,  like  Zechariah  and 
Elizabeth  of  old,  "  both  righteous  before  God,  walking  in 
all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blame- 
less." They  became  early  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  carried  the  influence  of  their  piety  with  them,  like  their 
worthy  ancestors,  into  the  wilderness.    Springing  from  the 

*  This  feature  in  civil  polity  is,  I  believe,  peculiar  to  the  State  of  Vermont. 
The  Council  of  Censors  is  composed  of  thirteen  members,  chosen  once  in  seven 
years  by  a  general  vote.  Its  province  is  to  revise  all  the  official  acts  of  the  le- 
gislative, executive,  and  judiciary  departments  during  the  past  seven  years,  with 
power  to  send  for  persons,  papers,  and  records.  It  can  pass  censures,  order  im- 
peachments, and  recommend  the  Legislature  to  repeal  unconstitutional  laws.  It 
investigates,  also,  the  mode  of  imposing  and  collecting  the  taxes.  Its  power 
lasts  one  year ;  but  it  can  call  a  Convention,  if  deemed  advisable,  within  two 
years  after  its  session.  Such  a  tribunal  must  be  in  the  last  degree  important, 
and  ought  to  be  composed  of  men  combining  Grecian  intelligence  with  no  less 
than  Roman  integrity. — See  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont,  by  Samuel 
Williams,  LL.D. ;  Walpole,  New- Hampshire,  1794 ;  p.  348,  349. 


't 

EARLY  TRAINING. 


21 


stock  of  the  ancient  Puritans,  they  inherited  all  their  hardy 
and  useful  qualities.    To  these  virtuous  sons  of  New-Eng- 
land— the  Scotland  of  America — we  may  apply  Words- 
worth's description  of  his  hero's  ancestors  in  the  Excursion: 
"  Pare  livers  were  they  all,  austere  and  grave, 
And  fearing  God  ;  the  very  children  taught 
Stern  self-respect,  a  reverence  for  God's  word, 
And  an  habitual  piety,  maintained 
With  strictness  scarcely  known  on  other  ground." 

Such  were  the  forefathers  of  Dr.  Fisk.  The  reader  may 
perhaps  be  reminded  of  the  Duke  of  Sully's  remarks,  in  his 
Memoirs,  on  his  own  ancestry.  "  Whoever  has  such  do- 
mestic examples  as  these,  cannot  recall  them  too  often  to  his 
memory  to  animate  himself  to  follow  them.  Happy  if,  du- 
ring the  course  of  my  life,  my  conduct  may  be  such  that 
#  #  #  #  tkey  disdain  not  to  acknowledge  me,  nor  I  have 
occasion  to  blush  that  I  am  descended  from  them." 

Mrs.  Fisk  was  very  assiduous  in  impressing  upon  the 
minds  of  her  children  the  great  principles  of  Christianity. 
She  took  them  early  and  constantly  to  church  ;  made  it  a 
particular  business  to  read  to  them  the  Word  of  God  ;  re- 
quired them  to  learn  their  catechism,  and  commit  texts, 
hymns,  and  prayers  to  memory.  She  had  the  happy  art, 
too,  of  rendering  these  things  more  a  pleasure  than  a  bur- 
den. According  to  their  capacity,  she  was  almost  constantly 
stimulating  them  to  thought  and  inquiry  by  her  conversation 
with  them.  Both  parents  were  exemplary  in  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath.  They  regarded  it  as  a  day  strictly  set  apart 
for  religious  uses,  and  hence  the  time  not  spent  in  public 
worship  was  occupied  in  family  instruction.  They  neither 
paid  nor  received  calls  or  visits  on  the  Sabbath  day.  Yet 
their  piety  was  so  mild  and  cheerful,  and  their  household 
governed  with  such  uniform  consistency,  that  the  Sabbath 
was  far  from  being  a  dull  or  gloomy  day. 

From  such  a  training  the  young  Willbur  naturally  learned 
to  respect  religion.  He  was  thoughtful  and  conscientious  J 
yet  he  gave  ample  evidence  of  the  natural  corruption  of  our 
moral  powers.  He  was  hasty,  passionate,  and  self-willed. 
He  was  naturally  of  an  ardent  temperament,  and,  though 
generally  mild  and  placable,  yet  at  times  he  gave  way  to 


22 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


strong  temper.  Some  proofs  of  this  are  still  reserved  in 
memory  by  the  family.  Yet  he  was  easily  made  sensible 
of  his  errors,  and  deeply  repented  them.  "  Often,"  he  says, 
in  a  very  brief  sketch  of  his  early  life,  "  I  have  watered  my 
pillow  with  my  tears  for  the  sins  I  had  committed,  and  fre- 
quently have  I  feared  to  sleep  lest  I  should  awake  in  mis- 
ery." This  was  when  he  was  not  more  than  four  or  five 
years  of  age. 

But  it  was  not  until  his  eleventh  year  that  there  seemed 
to  rest  upon  him  any  abiding  religious  influence.  His  mind 
was  then  very  deeply  impressed  by  the  death  of  his  little 
brother,  to  whom  he  was  very  tenderly  attached.  Standing 
by  the  side  of  the  corpse,  he  said  to  his  sister  Mary,  "  How 
good  God  is  to  us  !  He  has  taken  our  little  brother  away, 
who  needed  no  conversion ;  but  he  has  given  us  time  to  re- 
pent." 

His  father,  who  recollects  the  circumstances  perfectly 
well,  informed  me  that  his  convictions  of  sin  now  became 
very  deep,  his  faith  in  Christ  was  clear,  and  the  change  in 
his  feelings  great  and  obvious.  He  was  soon  after  received 
on  probation  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
his  mother  had  belonged  for  some  time.  His  father,  though 
a  professor  of  religion,  did  not  join  this  church  for  several 
years  after. 

The  tendency  of  mind  towards  a  common  level  is  evident 
in  piety.  The  individual  is  apt  to  catch  the  spirit  of  those 
around  him,  and  rise  or  sink  to  the  prevailing  standard. 
Let  the  churches  ponder  this.  It  was  favourable  to  Will- 
bur's  piety  that  the  church  he  joined  was  composed  of  very 
deeply-devoted  and  active  Christians.  The  standard  of  per- 
sonal religion  was  high,  and  well  adapted  to  sustain  the  ele- 
vated purposes  of  a  young  disciple.  He  became  a  striking 
example  of  youthful  piety. 

It  was  not  very  long  after  this  period  before  our  young 
friend  gave  indication  of  his  future  usefulness.  His  preco- 
cious talents  were  early  brought  into  requisition,  in  a  way  for 
which  no  church  affords  such  opportunity  as  our  own.  But 
there  is  some  danger  with  us  of  carrying  it  to  an  injurious 
excess.    He  began  early  to  pray  in  public,  and  to  speak  in 


MENTAL  CHARACTER. 


23 


class-meetings  and  at  love-feasts,  and  even  to  exhort  after 
preaching,  which  was  then  generally  in  a  schoolhouse  or 
private  dwelling.  On  these  occasions  the  relation  of  his 
Christian  feelings  was  often  peculiarly  affecting.  His  zeal, 
talents,  and  aptitude  in  speaking  were  such  as  deeply  to  imT 
press  the  minds  of  all  with  an  expectation  of  subsequent 
eminence. 

But  it  is  time  to  pay  attention  to  the  formation  of  our  sub- 
ject's mental  habits.  Piety  has  more  influence  than  many 
are  aware  of  on  the  development  of  the  mental  powers. 
After  the  period  of  which  we  have  spoken,  his  mind  ap- 
peared to  expand  very  rapidly,  and  he  manifested  great 
eagerness  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge.  He  would  fre- 
quently rise  at  three  or  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  that  he 
might  have  time  to  pursue  his  studies  before  the  family  were 
up.  When  he  went  into  the  fields  to  work,  it  was  his  gen- 
eral practice  to  carry  a  book  in  his  pocket  wherewith  to 
improve  his  leisure  moments.  It  was  often  his  lot  to  attend 
to  the  fire  of  a  lime-kiln ;  and  more  than  once  he  was  so  ab- 
sorbed in  his  book  as  to  let  the  fire  go  out.  As  it  was  some 
distance  from  the  house,  to  save  the  time  of  going  to  dinner, 
he  would  sometimes  open  a  potato-hill,  and,  washing  the 
contents  in  a  brook,  roast  them  in  the  kiln  for  his  meal. 
Thus  he  satisfied  at  once  his  physical  and  his  intellectual 
appetite.  Such  little  things  would  not  be  worth  notice,  only 
that  in  them  we  see  the  man  in  miniature.* 

Young  Fisk's  early  advantages,  so  far  as  schooling  was 
concerned,  were  very  limited.  From  the  age  of  seven  to 
sixteen  he  scarcely  attended  school  altogether  more  than 
two  or  three  years.  This  was  with  him  afterward  a  subject 
of  deep  regret.  In  the  little  sketch  of  his  early  life  already 
alluded  to,  he  says,  "  Thus  the  best  part  of  my  time  for  lit- 
erary instruction  was  lost :  a  loss  which  I  shall  always  regret, 
as  it  can  never  be  made  up.  I  always  consider  these  years 
of  my  life  as  little  better  than  thrown  away.    It  is  true,  du- 

*  Of  the  character  of  his  reading  at  this  time,  some  glimpse  was  incidentally 
afforded  at  a  subsequent  period.  When  it  was  proposed  to  introduce  Smellie's 
Philosophy  of  Natural  History  into  the  University  course  of  studies,  Dr.  Fisk  re- 
marked, "  I  first  read  that  book  while  attending  a  lime-kiln  on  my  father's  farm." 


24 


LIFE  OF  WILLBDR  FISK. 


ring  these  years  I  read  a  number  of  authors,  which  served 
to  enlarge  my  ideas  of  men  and  things.  But,  as  I  had  none 
to  direct  my  studies,  and  as,  from  the  scarcity  of  good  books, 
I  had  but  little  opportunity  of  exercising  even  my  own  judg- 
ment in  a  choice,  my  reading  was  very  desultory,  and  in 
many  instances  very  unprofitable.  Besides,  during  those 
years  in  which  the  mind  is  hastening  to  its  maturity,  and  in 
which  its  movements  and  operations  in  future  life  are  almost 
irresistibly  influenced,  my  employments  and  course  of  read- 
ing were  such  as  to  scatter  my  thoughts,  and  induce  a  wan- 
dering habit  of  mind  that  I  never  have  conquered,  and  prob- 
ably never  shall.  This  habit  of  mind  is  a  lamentable  evil. 
It  greatly  retards  a  man  in  his  course  of  usefulness,  and  is 
almost  an  unconquerable  obstruction  to  devotion  itself. 
How  little  do  parents  and  guardians  realize  the  great  injury 
the  young  committed  to  their  care  are  sustaining  while  their 
minds  are  regulated  by  no  fixed  salutary  rules,  and  their 
studies  are  directed  to  no  salutary  end !  There  are  some 
geniuses,  it  is  true,  which  shine  with  an  almost  supernatural 
light,  unaided  by  regular  culture  ;  and  their  flights  might 
have  been  retarded  by  a  regular  course  of  cultivation.  But 
even  these  would  probably,  on  the  whole,  have  lost  nothing. 
They  would  at  times  have  coruscated  less  brilliantly,  but 
they  would  have  erred  less  frequently.  They  would  have 
dazzled  less  occasionally,  but  they  would  have  pleased  and 
instructed  more  uniformly.  And  it  is  certain  most  minds 
need  much  regulating,  restraining,  arid  directing  to  render 
them  as  useful  to  themselves  and  others  a.s  they  might  be." 

Yet  it  may  be  doubted  if  this  be  not  too  severe  a  judg- 
ment. We  must  not  confine  our  notions  of  education  en- 
tirely to  the  schoolroom.  Much  of  the  mental  training,  or, 
at  least,  development,  takes  place  by  the  fireside,  at  the 
family  table,  in  the  field,  and  on  the  road.  In  short,  mind 
is  formed  by  its  daily  contact  with  the  minds  around  it.  In- 
telligence is  infectious.  You  cannot  live  in  the  midst  of  it 
without  catching  a  portion.  Young  Fisk  enjoyed  advanta- 
ges at  home.  The  ideas,  views  of  things,  and  principles 
which  he  learned  from  his  well-informed  and  thoughtful, 
though  not  highly-educated  parents,  were  such  as  to  awaken 


LOVE  OF  NATURAL  SCENERY. 


25 


thought  and  create  a  thirst  for  information.  This  made  him 
set  a  higher  value  on  his  subsequent  advantages,  and,  con- 
sequently, stimulated  him  to  application. 

Another  particular  had  no  little  influence  in  shaping  his 
mental  character.  I  allude  to  natural  scenery.  His  pater- 
nal dwelling  is  surrounded  by  objects  which  find  a  ready 
response  in  the  reflective  mind,  especially  when  accompanied 
by  great  sensibility.  The  house  is  situated  on  a  considera- 
ble eminence,  overlooking  a  wide  extent  of  country.  Around 
it  the  tops  of  the  hills  are  seen  peering  one  above  another, 
like  the  caps  of  the  ocean  billows  in  a  gale;  while  at  the 
distance  of  forty  miles  are  discerned  the  summits  of  the 
White  Mountains  of  New-Hampshire,  soaring  majestically 
till  their  heads  are  lost  in  the  clouds.  There  is  ample  evi- 
dence that  young  Willbur  was  deeply  sensible  of  the  beauty 
and  sublimity  of  the  Creator's  works.  He  would  wander 
off  by  himself  for  hours,  traversing  the  woods,  climbing  the 
hills,  or  tracing  the  windings  of  the  rivulet.  There  is  one 
spot  on  the  farm  which  was  a  favourite  resort.  It  is  the 
summit  of  a  sloping  hill,  perhaps  two  hundred  feet  high, 
terminating  on  one  side  precipitously,  and  crested  with  a 
lovely  grove.  Here  he  has  sometimes  been  seen,  unknown 
to  himself,  lost  in  thought,  or  engaged  deeply  in  soliloquy. 

"  In  such  communion  not  from  terror  free, 
While  yet  a  child,  and  long  before  his  time, 
He  had  perceived  the  presence  and  the  power 
Of  greatness  ;  and  deep  feelings  had  impressed 
Great  objects  on  his  mind,  with  portraiture 
And  colour  so  distinct,  thai  on  his  mind 
They  lay  like  substances,  and  seemed 
To  haunt  the  bodily  sense." — The  Excursion. 

In  the  manner  we  have  indicated,  our  subject  passed  along 
"life's  low  vale"  until  he  reached  his  seventeenth  year.  It 
was  now  apparent,  from  the  weakness  of  his  constitution, 
that  he  was  ill  adapted  to  the  business  of  a  farmer,  in  a  state 
of  society  where  the  farmer  must  depend  chiefly  on  his  own 
hands  for  the  tillage  of  his  grounds.  Besides,  his  eager 
thirst  for  knowledge  was  such  as  very  much  to  disqualify 
him  for  laborious  employments,  and  rendered  him  dissatis- 
fied with  his  situation.  Hence,  in  the  winter  of  1808,  '9, 
3  D 


26 


LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 


his  father  sent  him  for  three  months  to  the  county  gram- 
mar-school at  Peacham,  about  twenty  miles  from  Lyndon. 
During  this  period,  he  observes,  in  the  manuscript  before 
referred  to,  "  I  gained  a  tolerable  knowledge  of  English 
grammar  and  vulgar  arithmetic,  with  which  I  was  before  but 
little  acquainted.  I  then  returned  to  my  former  employ- 
ment of  cultivating  the  soil,  and  had  no  more  opportunities 
to  attend  to  my  studies,  save  what  I  enjoyed  in  my  intervals 
of  labour,  till  the  autumn  of  1810,  when  I  again  visited  the 
grammar-school,  where  I  remained  about  six  weeks,  and 
then  took  charge  of  a  district  school  to  instruct  for  the  win- 
ter." 

He  had  now  tasted  the  sweets  of  knowledge,  and  he  pined 
for  a  deeper  draught.  He  thus  proceeds  :  "  Ever  since  I 
was  at  the  grammar-school  the  first  time,  I  was  more  dissat- 
isfied and  uneasy  than  before.  I  had  got  a  keener  relish 
for  study,  had  seen  many  fitting  for  the  University,  and  had 
learned  at  least  some  of  the  names  of  the  sciences ;  and  I 
had  an  ardent  desire  to  give  up  all  for  this  pursuit.  But  my 
father's  circumstances  were  such  as  would  not  authorize  him 
to  undertake  my  support  through  a  course  of  study.  How- 
ever, I  found  that  many  young  men  without  property  made 
shift  to  support  themselves  mostly  by  their  own  exertions ; 
and  having,  by  much  entreaty,  gained  my  father's  consent 
to  make  the  attempt,  I  began  my  Latin  grammar  in  May, 
1811."  If  I  am  correctly  informed,  though  it  is  not  men- 
tioned in  his  hasty  sketch,  he  returned  now  to  the  grammar- 
school,  and  completed  his  preparation  for  college. 

When  young  Fisk  first  went  to  Peacham,  he  excited  no 
little  remark  by  the  gravity  and  dignity  of  his  carriage,  so 
uncommon  in  a  youth  of  seventeen.  He  then  struck  every 
one  as  unusually  conscientious  and  devoted.  But,  unhappily 
for  himself,  this  feature  of  his  character  did  not  long  con- 
tinue. Under  any  circumstances,  a  course  of  education,  by 
developing  faculties  before  unknown  to  their  possessor,  and 
opening  up  views  to  which  the  mind  was  before  a  stranger, 
presents  peculiar  temptations  to  the  humility  and  simplicity 
of  a  spiritual  Christian.  And  this  temptation  must  necessa- 
rily be  greater  when  the  dominant  influence  of  a  school  is 


ACADEMY  AT  PEACIIAM. 


27 


unfavourable  to  an  evangelical  temper.  This  was  the  case 
at  Peacham.  Unfortunately,  the  state  of  religion  in  the  town 
was  extremely  low,  and  religious  influence  in  the  school  was 
unknown.  The  feelings  appealed  to  were  all  worldly.  Am- 
bition, rivalry,  and  love  of  applause  were  the  governing  im- 
pulses;  and  by  degrees  young  Fisk  caught  the  contagion, 
relaxed  from  his  Christian  spirit,  and  became  as  worldly 
and  ambitious  as  his  associates. 

There  was  at  this  time  a  good  share  of  talent  in  the  school, 
and  the  spirit  of  rivalry  ran  high.  As  usual,  the  school  was 
divided  into  two  parties,  scholastic  and  political.  By  one 
of  these  young  Fisk  was  looked  up  to  as  leader,  while  Thad- 
deus  Stevens,  since  so  well  known  in  the  political  circles  in 
Pennsylvania,  stood  in  the  same  relation  to  the  other.  These 
two  were,  consequently,  often  pitted  against  each  other,  and 
some  stories  are  still  told  in  the  neighbourhood  illustrative 
of  their  respective  talents  and  character.  They  both  realized 
the  anticipations  of  their  friends,  only  that  young  Fisk  show- 
ed at  that  period  a  warmth  of  temper  and  a  desire  of  dis- 
tinction which  made  his  subsequent  coolness  and  self-renun- 
ciation more  observable. 

Though  liable  at  times  to  strong  excitement,  he  was  gen- 
erally remarkable  for  calm  dignity  and  self-possession.  Pru- 
dence was  another  striking  feature  in  his  character  at  this 
time  ;  and  with  this  was  combined  a  readiness  and  tact,  that, 
with  a  feebler  sense  of  rectitude,  would  have  degenerated 
into  cunning  and  intrigue.  He  was,  likewise,  very  prompt 
and  ready  in  rejoinder.  No  emergency  seemed  to  surprise 
him,  or  find  him  off  his  guard  ;  and,  withal,  he  had  a  deter- 
mined self-will,  bordering  upon  obstinacy.  Once  or  twice 
he  came  into  contact  with  the  trustees ;  and  it  was  amusing 
to  a  spectator  to  see  how  he  would  keep  his  ground  and 
hold  them  at  bay,  until,  unable  to  gain  an  advantage  over 
him,  they  would  intrench  themselves  behind  their  official 
dignity,  and  silence  him  when  they  could  not  convince. 

He  entered  a  good  deal  into  society  while  at  Peacham. 
Among  the  young  people  he  was  much  sought  after,  was 
considered  an  excellent  companion,  entered  with  zest  into 
their  various  amusements,  and  was  always  characterized  by 
a  vein  of  sly  humour  and  fun. 


28 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


During  this  whole  period  his  piety  declined  more  and 
more,  until  he  lost  all  claim  to  spirituality.  But  he  never 
fell  into  gross  sin,  nor  even  lost  the  fear  of  God.  He  even 
maintained  some  of  his  forms  of  devotion,  and  never  gave 
up  secret  prayer  and  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Yet  he 
was  painfully  conscious  of  a  heart  alienated  from  God,  and 
dead  to  true  religious  feelings.  Hence,  when  he  was  subse- 
quently restored  to  his  former  enjoyment  in  piety,  and  even 
after  he  had  entered  the  ministry,  he  could  not  visit  Peacham 
without  the  most  poignant  sensations  of  grief  and  shame. 
He  remained  a  stranger  to  spiritual  religion  until  some  time 
after  he  completed  his  collegiate  career. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1812,  young  Fisk  entered  the 
sophomore  class  in  the  University  of  Vermont.  Of  his  resi- 
dence there  we  have  but  little  knowledge,  except  what  is 
gained  from  his  college  exercises  and  a  few  private  letters. 
One  of  the  latter,  to  his  sister  Mary,  we  insert,  to  show  his 
turn  of  mind  and  the  warmth  of  his  affections. 

Burlington,  May  16th,  1813. 

"Dear  Sister, 

"  This  is  one  of  those  pleasant  mornings  so  often  described 
by  poets  and  writers  of  romances,  in  which  nature  seems  to 
have  united  all  her  beauties.  The  grove  has,  in  part,  assu- 
med its  green  summer  dress  ;  the  grass  of  the  pasture  already 
invites  the  grazing  herds  ;  and  the  germinating  fruit-trees 
unfold  their  promising  blossoms.  The  sun,  'with  his  golden 
beams,'  <  looks  o'er  the  dew  of  yon  high  eastern  hill  ;' 
while  the  feathered  songsters  of  the  grove,  warmed  by  his 
influence,  are  already  '  whistling  their  wild  notes  to  the 
wind.'  The  tented  field  below  is  covered  with  patriots,  the 
avengers  of  our  country's  wrongs  ;  the  placid  lake  beyond 
them  exhibits  a  pleasing  and  majestic  scene,  while  scarcely 
a  zephyr  ruffles  its  surface.  On  the  farther  shore  is  seen  the 
cultivated  farm  and  retired  dwelling  of  the  York  cottagers  ; 
beyond  the  whole,  the  sensible  horizon  closes  down  upon  a 
long  range  of  mountains,  and  terminates  the  delightful  pros- 
pect. Such  an  enchanting  scene  strikes  me,  I  know  not 
how,  with  a  feeling  at  once  agreeable  and  gloomy.    '  It  is 


LETTER  TO  HIS  SISTER. 


29 


like  the  memory  of  joys  that  are  past,  pleasing  and  mournful 
to  the  soul.'  It  calls  to  my  mind  the  happy  hours  which 
you  and  I,  my  dear  sister,  have  enjoyed  together  ;  when,  in 
our  innocent  and  childish  pastimes,  we  have  spent  '  the 
livelong  day'  in  wandering,  unrestrained,  over  the  meadows 
and  through  the  groves,  gathering  at  our  leisure  the  wild 
flowers  which  sprung  up  around  us  in  spontaneous  profusion. 
With  such  mingled  emotions,  I  look  to  find  one  with  whom 
I  may  converse,  whose  feelings  are  similar  to  my  own.  I 
look  in  vain.  I  then  am  ready  to  curse  my  fates  which  have 
separated  me  from  you :  for,  knowing  your  natural  disposi- 
tion, your  love  of  rural  scenes,  I  am  sensible  that  our  feel- 
ings would  join  in  unison.  But,  since  we  are  at  a  distance 
from  each  other,  when  to  meet  again  is  uncertain,  I  improve 
this  only  method  which  we  have  of  conversing  with  each 
other.  Separation  of  friends  and  relatives  has  the  good 
effect  of  uniting  them  more  closely  together.  Did  we 
always  enjoy  each  other's  company,  we  should  not  know 
how  to  appreciate  its  worth.  After  an  absence  of  several 
months  or  years,  how  pleasing  is  the  first  interview  with  our 
friends  !  All  our  former  affection  is  increased.  This  pleas- 
ure I  anticipate  when  I  shall  return  once  more  to  (  Lyn- 
don's hills.'  The  time,  however,  looks  at  a  considerable 
distance.  Perhaps  it  will  not  be  until  the  foliage  which 
now  begins  to  deck  the  grove  shall  have  fallen  to  the 
ground,  nipped  by  chill  November's  frost.  However  this 
may  be,  you  shall  frequently  hear  from  me.  It  is  entirely 
owing  to  hurry  of  study  that  I  have  not  written  to  you  be- 
fore. Besides  our  usual  studies,  I  have  written  a  funeral 
oration  since  I  came  here,  on  the  death  of  our  classmate, 
Mr.  Gilbert.  This  for  a  number  of  weeks  occupied  my 
spare  hours.  And,  since  I  am  writing  to  a  sister,  suffer  me 
to  observe,  that  it  was  said,  before  the  day  on  which  that 
oration  was  pronounced,  an  audience  in  Burlington  was 
never  known  to  weep  ;  but  on  that  day  many  a  fair  lady's 
cheek  was  wet  with  tears.  Think  not  I  am  an  egotist,  for 
I  should  not  have  written  thus  to  any  other  person.  Our 
appointments  for  Commencement  are  given  out.*    The  part 

*  There  was  an  exhibition  of  the  junior  class  on  the  evening  before  Com- 
mencement, in  which  he  had  a  part, 

3* 


30 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


I  have  is  a  poem  !  !  No  doubt  you  will  be  surprised  at  this, 
but  I  presume  not  more  than  I  was.  What  could  induce 
the  authorities  to  think  me  a  poet,  I  know  not.  You  know 
I  sometimes  dabble  in  rhyme,  but  you  very  well  know  also 
that  I  am  not  enough  of  a  poet  to  exhibit  my  productions  on 
the  stage.  For  my  own  part,  I  feel  very  much  embarrassed 
with  my  appointment.  But  there  is  no  reprieve.  I  must  do 
as  well  as  I  can.  If  I  am  hissed  at,  it  will  be  no  more  than 
I  expect,  or  at  least  fear.  I  should  be  very  happy  if  you 
could  loan  me  your  poetical  genius  until  Commencement. 
However,  as  I  shall  not  have  a  return  from  you  soon  enough, 
I  must  use  my  own — if  I  have  any. 

"  You  will  not,  I  suppose,  expect  me  to  write  much  con- 
cerning politics  to  you.  What  are  called  politics  at  present 
are  so  much  handled  by  every  one,  that  I  think  it  hardly 
worth  while  to  fill  up  a  letter  with  them.  We  have  only  to 
take  up  a  newspaper,  and  we  shall  see  enough  of  them  on 
every  page.  Therefore,  suffice  it  to  say,  I  am  still  a  friend 
to  my  country,  to  1  free  trade  and  no  impressment.' 

"  You  have  doubtless  heard  of  the  capture  of  Little  York. 
That,  to  be  sure,  is  agreeable  news  ;  but  the  loss  of  General 
Pike  in  a  great  measure  allays  the  joy  of  victory.  It  is 
thought  here  that  he  was  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  ser- 
vice. He  was  born  and  educated  in  the  army.  He  was 
enthusiastically  brave,  but  his  bravery  was  governed  by  his 
prudence  and  military  skill." 

Of  his  turn  of  mind  and  prevalent  tastes  at  this  time,  some 
idea  may  be  formed  from  a  list  of  the  nine  muses  and  the 
annexed  note  found  in  his  handwriting  : 

"  THE  NINE  MUSES. 


Melpomene  .  .  The  Tragic. 

Thalia      .  .  .  The  Comic. 

Erato       .  .  .  The  Lyric. 

Terpsichore  .  .  Presided  over  Dancing. 

Clio         .  .  •  Presided  ovpt  History. 

Euterpe    .  .  .  Presided  over  Music. 

Calliope    .  •  •  Eloquence  and  Heroic  Poetry. 

Polyhymnia  •  .  Singing  and  Rhetoric. 

Urania      .  •  •  Philosophy  and  Astronomy. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


31 


"  If  any  of  the  within-named  ladies  will  condescend  to 
initiate  me  into  any  one  branch  of  the  arts,  or  any  of  the 
sciences  which  they  patronise  and  preside  over,  I  pledge 
myself,  as  far  as  my  duty  to  my  God  and  my  fellow-beings 
will  permit,  to  be  her  humble  admirer  and  devotee  all  my 
life.  W.  Fisk." 

And,  accordingly,  he  devoted  himself  to  them  all  with 
great  assiduity,  except  Terpsichore  and  Thalia,  though 
Clio,  Calliope,  Polyhymnia,  and  Urania  were  most  auspi- 
cious to  his  vows. 

The  following  paper  also  shows  that  he  was  forming  lofty 
aims  for  future  attainments.    It  is  dated  1813  : 

"  REMARKS  ON  THE   LIFE   OF  FRANKLIN. 

"  Practices  and  Principles  worthy  of  Imitation. 

u  First.  His  unremitting  diligence  in  everything  he  under- 
took. What  more  strongly  augurs  a  great  man  than  to  see 
a  person,  while  young,  devoting  almost  every  moment  of  his 
spare  hours  to  study,  and,  when  employed  in  his  calling,  pur- 
suing his  occupation  faithfully  and  industriously  ? 

"  Secondly.  His  care  to  improve  his  style.  This  ought 
to  be  one  of  the  first  objects  of  a  young  man  who  is  hoping 
to  rise  to  any  degree  of  eminence  and  usefulness  in  life. 

"  Thirdly.  His  strict  regard  to  his  regimen.  This,  as  he 
himself  relates,  contributed  much,  not  only  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  his  health,  but  also  to  the  clearness  of  his  ideas. 

"  Fourthly.  His  frugality  and  economy  in  managing  his 
pecuniary  affairs. 

"  Fifthly.  His  benevolence  to  his  friends.  This,  how- 
ever, seems  not  worthy  of  imitation  to  the  extent  he  prac- 
tised it.  We  ought,  indeed,  to  be  always  benevolent  to  our 
friends,  but  we  ought  carefully  to  determine  that  they  are 
worthy  of  our  beneficence.  In  this  respect  Franklin  seems 
not  to  have  been  sufficiently  cautious,  as  he  frequently  be- 
stowed his  favours  upon  the  ungrateful  and  the  undeserving ; 
but,  as  it  arose  from  a  good  heart,  it  ought  to  be  classed 
among  his  virtues. 

"  Sixthly.  His  benevolence  to  all  mankind.    This  is  a 


♦ 


32 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


noble  principle.  "Whenever  he  saw  a  person  in  want,  his 
purse  was  always  open  for  their  assistance  ;  and  not  only 
his  purse,  but  his  talents,  were  at  their  service.  His  various 
publications,  if  attended  to  by  the  poor,  would  really  place 
them  in  the  high  '  way  to  wealth.'  Under  this  head  should 
be  mentioned  his  wish  to  assist  young  tradesmen  just  com- 
mencing business,  for  which  purpose  he  left  by  his  testa- 
ment two  thousand  dollars,  to  be  loaned  to  young  trades- 
men at  five  per  centum. 

"  Seventhly.  His  detestation  of  arbitrary  power.  This 
excellent  principle  of  Franklin's  was  admirably  calculated 
to  recommend  him  to  his  countrymen,  and  led  the  way  for 
him  to  manifest  one  of  his  most  noble  and  praiseworthy 
principles,  which  was, 

"  Eighthly.  His  patriotism.  Franklin's  was  a  heart  too 
much  the  seat  of  every  virtue  not  to  be  warmed  by  a  love 
of  country.  This  appeared  in  every  public  act  of  his  life. 
To  serve  his  country,  he  quitted  the  private  walks  of  life, 
and  those  literary  pursuits  by  which  he  immortalized  his 
name.  His  influence  and  talents,  which  were  very  great, 
were  for  a  series  of  years  wholly  devoted  to  the  interest  of 
his  country.  And  so  successful  were  his  exertions,  that,  so 
long  as  the  love  of  liberty  and  independence  animates  the 
bosoms  of  Americans,  the  name  of  Franklin  will  be  revered." 

The  instruction  at  the  University  of  Vermont  was  sus- 
pended in  1813  by  the  clangour  of  war.  A  division  of  the 
northern  army,  on  going  into  winter-quarters,  found  it  con- 
venient to  use  the  buildings  of  the  University  for  barracks, 
making  "  the  peaceful  votaries  of  Minerva  give  way  to  the 
noisy  sons  of  Mars."  Compelled  to  seek  another  asylum, 
our  subject  would  have  entered  Middlebury  College  ;  but, 
on  applying  to  Dr.  Davis,  president  of  this  institution,  he 
was  told  that  he  could  not  expect  to  enter  in  the  same  stand- 
ing at  Middlebury  that  he  had  held  in  Burlington.  Indig- 
nant at  this  summary  judgment  without  examination,  and 
not  relishing  the  reflection  upon  a  sister  college,  he  left 
Middlebury,  and  entered  Brown  University,  at  Providence, 
Rhode  Island.  This,  however,  was  not  until  the  summer 
of  1814. 


SKETCH  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 


33 


For  the  following  sketch  of  young  Fisk's  character  at  this 
period,  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  George  Taft,  rector  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  at  North  Providence,  R.  I. : 

"  North  Providence,  August  10,  1840. 
"Professor  Holdich — Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

"  You  request  of  me  my  recollections  of  the  late  Dr.  Fisk, 
president  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Conn., 
to  be  used  in  a  Memoir  of  his  Life.  Your  request  imposes 
upon  me  a  pleasant  and  a  painful  duty  :  pleasant,  because 
it  leads  me  to  review  the  happy  days  I  have  spent  with  him  ; 
painful,  because  those  days  are  gone,  never  to  return.  I  will 
attempt  its  performance. 

"  Fisk  was  my  classmate  in  Brown  University.  He  came 
among  us  during  our  junior  year,  and  I  think  it  was  in  the 
spring  term.  He  had  previously  been  a  member  of  the 
University  of  Vermont,  which  was  broken  up  in  consequence 
of  its  being  in  or  near  the  seat  of  the  late  war  between  this 
country  and  Great  Britain. 

"  I  was  the  first  with  whom  he  became  acquainted  in  the 
University.  Our  acquaintance  soon  ripened  into  a  cordial 
friendship,  which  grew  stronger  and  stronger,  until  we  sep- 
arated on  the  day  we  graduated.  Our  intercourse  was  most 
confiding.  Removing  every  disguise,  we  disclosed  our 
minds  to  each  other.  Since  our  Commencement  we  have 
had  but  few  personal  interviews. 

"  I  take  no  credit  to  myself  for  becoming  attached  to  him. 
It  would  augur  a  strange  obliquity  in  a  man's  moral  nature 
to  know  and  not  to  be  attached  to  him.  The  lover  of  virtue 
must  have  been  an  admirer  of  him. 

"  My  remarks  must  be  confined  to  his  college  life.  But 
here  a  difficulty  presents  itself.  It  is  difficult  to  point  out 
one  section  of  the  nocturnal  sideral  firmament  more  resplen- 
dent than  another.  So  it  is  difficult  to  point  out  the  more 
brilliant  parts  of  his  collegiate  life,  where  all  was  brilliant. 
He  appeared  advantageously  in  every  branch  of  learning 
taught  in  the  University.  There  might,  perhaps,  have  been 
one  who  excelled  him  in  the  mathematics,  and  another  in 
the  learned  languages  ;  but  there  was  no  one  so  distinguish- 

E 


34 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ed  in  every  department  of  literature  and  science.  He  was 
a  universal,  and  yet  not  a  superficial  scholar.  I  am  persua- 
ded that,  if  he  had  directed  all  the  energies  of  his  mind  to 
any  one  art  or  science,  he  would  have  rivalled  the  mighty 
masters  of  any  age. 

"  If  he  was  more  distinguished  in  one  department  of  study 
than  another,  it  was  the  belles-lettres.  He  revelled  and  luxu- 
riatedin  Kaimes's  Elements  of  Criticism.  I  remember,  how- 
ever, that  he  objected  to  this  work  the  paucity  of  Scriptural 
illustrations.    The  objection  is  a  valid  one. 

"  He  possessed  a  nicely-balanced  mind.  All  its  faculties 
were  called  forth  and  cultivated.  No  one  was  nurtured  to 
the  neglect  or  injury  of  another.  His  imagination,  luxuri- 
ant, and  naturally,  perhaps,  having  the  ascendency  over  the 
other  attributes  of  his  mind,  was  subjected  to  a  sound  and 
discriminating  judgment,  and  an  elegant  and  cultivated  taste. 

"  He  distinguished  accurately  between  useful  and  useless 
knowledge.  His  mind  was  not  lumbered  up  with  monkish 
learning.  .All  his  scientific  and  literary  acquisitions  were 
practical,  and  designed  to  bless  mankind. 

"  His  was  one  of  those  rare  minds  that  would  powerfully 
and  lastingly  impress  those  it  carne  in  contact  with  ;  and  I 
doubt  not  but  that,  in  his  high  office  of  President  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  University,  he  has  fixed  his  image  and  superscription 
upon  many  of  the  young  gentlemen  who  have  resorted  thither 
for  education.  It  has  been  well  remarked  by  some  one,  that 
the  teacher  who  does  not  leave  his  mark  upon  his  pupils  is 
not  worthy  of  his  office. 

"  As  a  debater  or  extemporaneous  speaker,  he  had  no 
equal  in  the  class.  He  possessed  the  i  copia  fandi1  in  an 
eminent  degree.  He  poured  forth  a  stream  of  rich  and  va- 
ried thought,  clothed  in  appropriate  and  beautiful  language. 

"  His  talent  for  description  was  extraordinary.  In  con- 
versation and  in  composition,  he  has  described  an  object  so 
true  to  the  original,  that  I  have  had  an  idea  of  it  as  vividly 
distinct  as  though  it  had  been  delineated  on  canvass  before 
me  by  the  pencil  of  some  mighty  master  of  the  graphic  art. 
Can  language  do  more  than  this  ? 

il  He  had  a  fine  taste  for  poetry.    He  repeated  passages 


SKETCH  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 


35 


to  good  effect.  His  recitations  were  generally  of  the  pa- 
thetic character.  Sure,  never  till  my  latest  breath  shall  I 
forget  his  repeating  Montgomery's  Grave.  It  was  on  one  of 
New-England's  most  beautiful  autumnal  days.  The  yellow 
leaf  was  falling.  A  mild  southwest  wind  was  sighing  among 
the  trees.  His  pathetic  tones  seem  almost  to  be  now  ring- 
ing in  my  ears.  We  mingled  our  tears  as  we  spoke  of  the 
grave.    His  mind  appeared  slightly  tinged  with  melancholy. 

"  He  sometimes  tried  his  hand  at  original  poetry.  I  re- 
member that,  for  a  college  exercise  in  composition,  he  turned 
into  metre  Mrs.  Barbauld's  prose  hymn,  beginning  with, 
'  Child  of  mortality,  whence  comest  thou  ?'  and  when  he 
read  it  before  the  class,  we  listened  to  it  with  pleasure. 
This  was  high  praise,  for  we  knew  the  original.  That  ripe 
scholar,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Buckminster,  of  Boston,  said  he 
would  rather  be  the  author  of  Mrs.  Barbauld's  Hymns  than 
of  Newton's  Principia. 

"  During  our  senior  year,  six  of  our  class  associated  our- 
selves together,  and  agreed  to  write  and  publish  weekly  in 
the  Rhode  Island  American  (the  most  ably  conducted  paper 
in  the  state)  pieces  after  the  manner  of  the  British  essayists. 
We  were  all  panting  to  be  Spectators,  and  Ramblers,  and 
Adventurers,  but  had  not  the  courage  to  adopt  the  style. 
We  met  in  grave  debate  about  a  name  for  our  lucubrations, 
and  finally  agreed  upon  that  of  Trifler.  Our  title  was  un- 
pretending, and  we  meant,  if  we  fell  below  Addison  and 
Johnson,  it  should  be  our  protection.  Fisk  wrote  a  piece 
on  Quid  Nuncs.  It  was  much  admired  at  the  time,  and,  if 
I  remember  right,  it  was  copied  into  other  papers. 

"  It  was  the  practice  in  the  college  in  our  time,  if  a  death 
occurred  in  either  the  freshman  or  sophomore  class,  for  the 
classmates  of  the  deceased  to  select  one  from  the  senior  class 
to  pronounce  a  funeral  eulogy  on  the  occasion.  During  our 
senior  year  a  death  took  place  in  the  sophomore  class,  and 
Fisk  was  unanimously  chosen  to  notice  the  event  in  a  fu- 
neral oration.  This  is  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which 
he  was  held  by  the  lower  classes. 

"  These  are  some  of  my  reminiscences  of  Fisk's  college 
life.    They  are  reminiscences  at  the  end  of  many  long  years. 


36 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


To  some  they  may  not  be  spirit-stirring  enough.  Such  must 
be  informed  that  the  life  of  the  secluded  student  does  not 
afford  an  opportunity  for  thrilling  incident.  That  must  be 
sought  in  the  life  of  the  soldier  and  mariner. 

"  I  have  not  attempted  a  delineation  of  his  character. 
That  would  require  his  own  graphic  pen ;  and  who  is  there 
that  wields  such  a  pen  ?  All  that  I  have  endeavoured  to  do 
is  to  state  a  few  isolated  facts,  which  may  be  of  service  to  his 
biographer  in  writing  the  history  of  his  mind. 

"  Take  him  for  all  in  all,  Fisk  was  undoubtedly  the  bright- 
est light  in  my  class.  It  is  painful  to  reflect  that  that  light 
is  gone  out  in  the  fulness  of  its  meridian  splendour.  I  thank 
God  it  shone  so  long,  and  that  so  many  enjoyed  and  walked 
in  it. 

"  I  had  fondly  cherished  the  hope  of  meeting  him,  on  some 
future  day,  in  his  academic  halls  and  learned  shades,  and  of 
placing  under  his  care  a  beloved  son,  to  be  trained  up  in 
good  morals  and  sound  learning.  This  hope  is  disappoint- 
ed. It  remains  for  me  to  be  prepared  to  meet  him  in  heaven, 
and  to  hold  up  his  example  before  my  boy  for  his  imitation. 
I  know  of  no  one  I  would  sooner  have  him  imitate  than  Dr. 
Fisk.  If  God  would  give  me  such  a  son,  I  would  bless  him, 
and  ask  no  more." 

In  addition  to  his  collegiate  studies,  Mr.  Fisk  availed  him- 
self of  whatever  other  means  of  improvement  were  within 
his  reach.  He  read  a  good  deal,  and  with  judgment.  He 
was  particularly  fond  of  Burke,  Addison,  and  Shakspeare. 
He  also  acknowledged  himself  under  no  small  obligation  to 
Johnson,  though  he  never  imitated  his  cumbrous  and  un- 
wieldy style.  He  turned  his  attention  also  to  natural  and 
international  law,  and  read  Vattel  and  Burlamaqui.  He 
made  himself  familiar  with  our  chief  masters  of  the  lyre, 
especially  Milton,  Young,  Beattie,  and  Scott.  He  was 
charmed  with  Moore,  but  called  him  a  "  golden  bait;"  and 
of  Byron's  powers  he  was  deeply  sensible,  but  dreaded  the 
pernicious  tendency  of  his  writings.  He  also,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, availed  himself  of  living  aids,  particularly  in  elocution. 
The  bar  of  Rhode  Island  sustained  at  that  time  a  high  repu- 


CLOSE   OF  HIS   COLLEGIATE  LIFE. 


37 


tation  for  oratorical  talent.  The  Hon.  James  Burrill,  with 
David  Howell,  A.  Robbins,  B.  Hazzard,  Esqrs.,  and  the  late 
Hon.  Tristram  Burgess,  were  the  stars  of  chief  magnitude. 
He  omitted  no  opportunity  of  hearing  these  gentlemen,  and 
for  this  purpose  not  unfrequently  sat  up  most  of  the  night  to 
get  his  lessons. 

During  this  period  he  kept  up  no  profession  of  religion, 
and  identified  himself  with  no  church.  He  was  fond  of  so- 
ciety, with  which  he  mingled  as  much  as  his  duties  would 
allow,  occasionally  attending  places  of  fashionable  amuse- 
ment. He  sometimes  went  where  they  profess  to  "  hold  the 
mirror  up  to  nature,"  and  discovered,  from  observation  more 
than  experience,  that  they  rather  hold  out  a  pleasing  bait 
"  to  allure  the  young  and  unwary  into  vicious  practices." 

Having  completed  his  course,  he  received  from  his  in- 
structed a  sufficient  token  of  their  regard  in  having  a  dis- 
tinguished part  assigned  him  for  the  Commencement  exer- 
cises. This  was  the  more  grateful  to  his  feelings  after  the 
repulse  he  had  met  with  at  Middlebury.  He  was  graduated 
in  August,  1815. 
4 


3S 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Studies  Law. — Mental  Conflict,  and  Views  of  the  Ministry. — Residence  in  Mary- 
land.— Sickness. — Returns  Home. — Reclaimed. — Called  to  Preach. — Ministe- 
rial Qualifications. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  when  it  was  necessary  for  Mr. 
Fisk  to  determine  in  what  manner  he  would  employ  his 
talents  and  education.  Next  to  marriage,  the  choice  of  a 
profession  is  the  most  important  incident  in  the  secular  his- 
tory of  a  human  being,  and  exercises  the  greatest  influence 
over  his  subsequent  character  and  destiny.  The  decision  of 
this  question  cost  him  no  little  thought  and  anxiety.  When 
he  commenced  his  course  of  study,  his  parents  entertained 
a  hope  that  he  would  devote  himself  to  the  sacred  office. 
His  own  views  were  similar.  Yet  he  was  not  educated  for 
this  specific  object.  He  had  not  a  sufficient  assurance  that 
he  was  "  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon 
him  the  office  of  the  ministry  in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ." 
In  pursuing  his  education,  therefore,  he  followed  what  he 
and  his  parents  believed  to  be  present  duty,  trusting  that  he 
should  be  ready  to  obey  the  call  of  God,  whatever  it  might 
be.  But  we  have  already  seen  how  much  he  declined  in 
religious  feeling  during  this  period,  and,  in  consequence,  his 
convictions  of  duty  to  preach  the  Gospel  very  much  abated. 
Indeed,  he  had  for  some  time  entertained  serious  thoughts 
of  qualifying  himself  for  a  statesman.  His  turn  of  mind  and 
objects  of  study  while  in  college,  as  we  have  seen,  were 
governed  by  this  intention.  Yet,  as  the  period  approached 
when  he  must  make  his  selection,  he  had  many  misgivings 
and  painfully  conflicting  impulsions.  The  necessity  of  com- 
ing to  a  decision  brought  his  thoughts  into  contact  with  a 
subject  which  had  long  been  painful  to  him.  The  thought 
of  what  he  had  been,  compared  with  what  he  now  was, 
racked  him  with  agony ;  and  while  his  conscience  pointed 
out  the  path  of  duty,  he  was  deeply  conscious  of  a  want  of 
spiritual  qualification  ;  and,  what  was  worse,  religion  had 


STUDIES  LAW. 


39 


been  so  long  alien  to  his  feelings,  that  he  felt  no  disposition 
to  take  the  proper  steps  for  the  improvement  of  his  condi- 
tion. In  this  painful  state  he  knew  not  what  to  do.  He 
felt  a  great  repugnance  to  the  professions  both  of  law  and 
medicine,  so  that  at  one  time  he  entertained  serious  thoughts 
of  entering  into  mercantile  business,  and  wrote  to  a  friend 
for  his  advice  upon  the  subject.  Finally,  however,  having 
received  a  favourable  offer  from  the  Hon.  Isaac  Fletcher, 
who  had  already  attained  considerable  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession, he  entered  into  his  office  in  Lyndon,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  the  law.  He  applied  himself  to  his  legal  stud- 
ies with  great  assiduity,  and  immediately  commenced  laying 
a  foundation,  deep  and  broad,  for  future  usefulness.  His 
industry  was  indefatigable,  and  his  perseverance  unrelaxing. 
With  such  force  of  character  acting  with  his  talents  and  ac- 
quirements, he  would  no  doubt  have  attained  singular  emi- 
nence in  his  profession ;  for  it  was  his  uniform  practice, 
when  he  entered  upon  any  course,  to  throw  his  whole  heart 
into  it. 

Meantime,  his  excellent  parents  felt  great  solicitude  for 
him.  His  father's  views  may  be  seen  from  a  passage  in  a 
letter  in  answer  to  his  son's  inquiries  of  him,  while  in  col- 
lege, concerning  the  choice  of  his  profession.  He  tells  him 
that  he  had  had  a  secret  hope  that  his  religious  emotions 
would  be  enkindled  anew,  and  that  he  "  would  feel  that  wo 
that  St.  Paul  speaks  of  if  he  preached  not  the  Gospel." — (1 
Cor.,  ix.,  16.)  And  his  pious  mother  observed  to  me  while 
speaking  on  this  subject,  "  While  Willbur  was  aiming  at 
becoming  a  distinguished  statesman,  I  was  all  the  time  pray- 
ing that  he  might  be  made  a  minister."  Thus,  through  con- 
flicting influences,  he  pursued  for  a  time  his  thorny  way. 

But,  though  he  was  now  pleasantly  situated,  and  had  flat- 
tering prospects  before  him,  his  mind  was  ill  at  ease.  In 
hope  of  finding  relief,  he  wrote  to  his  friend  and  recent 
classmate,  Mr.  Taft,  stating  his  repugnance  to  the  law,  and 
relating  his  exercises  respecting  the  ministry.  Thus  he 
writes : 

"  I  still  look  to  the  ministry  as  the  best  situation  for  use- 
fulness to  myself  and  others.    Usefulness  to  myself,  not  in  a 


* 


40 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


pecuniary  point  of  view,  for  divines  in  this  country  have  no 
rich  glebes  and  fat  livings  to  support  them ;  but  I  consider 
it  as  the  most  probable  means  of  securing  my  present  and 
future  happiness.  Naturally  proud,  fond  of  the  amusements, 
follies,  and  honours  of  the  world,  it  is  almost  impossible  for 
me  to  mingle  with  the  multitude  in  any  worldly  employ- 
ment without  drinking  into  their  spirit  and  joining  in  their 
forbidden  pleasures.  I  know  that  I  am  unqualified  for  the 
important  and  sacred  duties  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 
But  there  is  a  Being  who  can  qualify  me  for  the  situation  ; 
and  if  it  is  a  station  I  ought  to  stand  in,  I  am  confident  He 
will  qualify  me  for  it.  If  I  conclude  to  study  Divinity,  the 
next  question  will  be,  which  of  the  numerous  denominations 
professing  the  Christian  religion  shall  I  take  license  under  ? 
The  Episcopal  Church  is  uppermost  in  my  mind  ;  and  as  I 
learn  you  have  entered  that  order,  I  know  of  no  one  to 
whom  I  could  apply  for  information  concerning  that  church 
with  a  better  prospect  of  receiving  a  candid  and  judicious  an- 
swer than  to  yourself.  I  wish,  therefore,  you  would  give  me 
what  information  you  can  respecting  the  Episcopal  Church, 
in  some  or  all  of  the  following  points  :  How  long  must  a 
person  study  before  he  can  commence  preaching  ?  What 
would  be  the  cost  to  fit  a  person  for  the  pulpit  ?  Where 
and  how  could  one  in  low  pecuniary  circumstances  best 
pursue  his  preparatory  studies  ?  What  openings  are  there 
in  the  Church  for  novices  in  the  profession  ?  What  encour- 
agement do  ministers  of  that  order  meet  with  ?  This  last 
question  may  perhaps  induce  you  to  think  that  I  wish  to  ob- 
tain the  priest's  office  to  secure  my  bread  ;  but  it  is  not  so  ; 
for  this  might  be  secured  with  much  greater  certainty,  and 
in  greater  abundance,  by  the  profession  of  Law  than  Divinity. 
I  wish  for  a  living  in  the  Avorld  with  the  rest  of  my  fellows. 
It  is  all  that  I  expect."  From  a  letter  he  wrote  about  the 
same  time  to  his  favourite  aunt,  Mrs.  Palmer,  of  Brattlebor- 
ough,  we  gain  a  farther  insight  into  his  feelings.  She  had 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  ministry  would  be  his  choice.  He 
gives  his  reasons  for  deciding  otherwise.  They  are  want  of 
religions  qualification,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  remunera- 
tion to  enable  him  to  aid  his  parents  and  sister  as  he  wished. 


THOUGHTS  ON  THE  MINISTRY. 


41 


The  reader  will  see  by  the  above  extract  the  power  which 
conscience  retained  over  him,  and  will  sympathize  with  him 
in  the  distressing  strait  into  which  he  was  brought.  At  the 
same  time,  he  will  not  fail  to  observe  that  his  views  were 
far  from  being  correct.  His  was  not  the  spirit  that  cried, 
"  Necessity  is  laid  upon  me ;  yea,  wo  is  me  if  I  preach  not 
the  Gospel."  It  was  a  prudential  matter.  The  choice  was 
to  be  first,  and  the  qualifications  were  to  come  afterward ; 
which  is  always  a  dangerous  experiment,  since  it  is  unscrip- 
tural,  and  unauthorized  of  Heaven.  Nor,  though  he  desired 
to  enter  the  ministry,  did  he  base  his  inquiries  on  the  single 
ground  appropriate  to  such  a  purpose.  The  question  was 
not,  Which  church  possesses  most  of  the  "  mind  that  was  in 
Christ,"  and  comes  nearest  to  the  scriptural  standard  in 
doctrine  and  discipline  ?  In  which  church  can  I  do  most 
to  honour  God  and  save  immortal  souls  ?  But  there  were 
many  considerations  having  but  a  remote  connexion  with 
ministerial  obligation.  Though  conscience  preponderated, 
yet  his  views  and  aims  were  mixed.  But  pure,  simple,  un- 
mixed motives  are  indispensable  to  the  integrity  of  the 
Christian  minister.  It  needs  a  "  single  eye"  in  order  to  have 
"  the  whole  body  full  of  light."  There  is  fearful  weight  in 
the  words  of  a  powerful  writer  of  the  age,  "  How  little  do 
we  consider  the  infinite  mischief  we  occasion  when  we  in- 
dulge small  motives  in  matters  of  religion."*  The  words 
ought  to  be  stamped  in  letters  of  living  light  on  every  Chris- 
tian heart.  It  is  utterly  a  fault  to  make  the  selection  of  a 
church,  and  especially  the  choice  of  the  ministry,  turn  upon 
any  considerations  other  than  those  strictly  appropriate  to 
holy  purposes.  Especially  in  the  ministry  does  this  consul- 
tation of  minor  interests  tend  to  degrade  it  from  its  legiti- 
mate elevation,  and  render  it  essentially  secular  and  time- 
serving. The  primary  object  is  then  subjected  to  secondary 
or  tertiary.  The  claims  of  immortality  must  wait  the  bid- 
ding of  mundane  interests  and  convenience ;  whereas  it  is 
one  of  the  first  lessons  of  the  New  Testament  to  subordinate 
every  claim,  however  endearing  or  imperious,  to  the  claims 
of  Heaven  ;  for  "  he  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than 
*  Saturday  Evening :  "  The  Church  and  the  World." 
4*  F 


42 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


me  is  not  worthy  of  me,"  and  no  earthly  claims  are  greater 
than  those  of  consanguinity.  These  views  are  abundantly 
sustained  by  the  history  of  our  subject.  As  soon  as  his  own 
soul  was  restored  to  a  healthful  religious  condition,  the  point 
was  settled.  His  mind  vacillated,  and  was  dissatisfied  so 
long  as  it  was  under  the  power  of  conflicting  motives.  When 
once  he  had  learned  to  make  all  motives  subordinate  to  the 
grand  aim,  his  solicitude  was  at  an  end ;  he  had  no  far- 
ther anxieties  upon  that  subject. 

Though  he  still  pursued  the  study  of  the  law  with  interest 
and  satisfaction,  he  could  not  reconcile  himself  to  the  prac- 
tice. Blackstone  and  Vattel  were  far  pleasanter  than  Chitty 
or  Espinasse  ;  but  it  did  not  accord  with  his  circumstances 
to  make  reading  law  a  mere  luxury.  Moreover,  his  college 
course  had  involved  him  and  his  father  in  expenses,  which 
made  it  advisable  to  turn  his  education  to  immediate  profit. 
Hence,  on  receiving  about  this  time,  through  President  Mes- 
ser,  of  Brown  University,  what  he  considered  an  advanta- 
geous offer,  he  determined  to  relinquish  his  present  situation, 
though  he  did  not  yet  fully  decide  on  abandoning  his  in- 
tended profession  ;  indeed,  he  continued  to  read  law  for 
some  time  afterward. 

We  next  find  him  in  the  family  of  Colonel  Ridgely,  near 
Baltimore,  employed  as  a  private  tutor.  Many  would  have 
thought  his  situation  here  very  eligible  ;  but  he  was  not 
happy.  Though  treated  with  great  politeness  and  attention, 
in  a  wealthy,  elegant,  and  hospitable  family,  everything  re- 
minded him  that  he  was  a  stranger.  His  disposition  was 
naturally  so  affectionate,  that  he  could  hardly  exist  but  in  an 
atmosphere  of  love  and  friendship.  Without  these,  mere 
courtesy  and  empty  compliment  were  to  him  as  the  snows 
of  Spitzbergen  to  a  tropical  plant.  Writing  to  his  intimate 
friend  and  townsman,  the  late  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Deming, 
he  says,  "  My  mind  and  disposition  are  such  that  I  must 
have  some  attachments,  or,  like  the  unsupported  vine,  I  sink 
to  the  earth;  and,  to  continue  the  figure,  if  there  is  nothing 
near  to  which  my  affections  can  attach  themselves,  like  the 
tendrils  of  the  vine,  they  stretch  forth  to  a  distance,  and 
twine  around  the  first  object  that  will  support  them."  Few 


MENTAL  DISQUIETUDE. 


43 


states  of  the  mind  are  more  painful  than  that  of  conscious 
sensibility  without  appropriate  objects.  This  pain  was  no 
doubt  increased  by  the  fact  that  he  had  lost  the  enjoyments 
of  true  piety.  That  contraction  of  the  sensibilities  which 
takes  place  under  the  withdrawal  of  religious  influence  oc- 
casions a  fearful  stagnation  of  interest,  unfavourable  to  even 
amiability.    Few  states  are  more  distressing. 

"  The  keenest  pangs  the  wretched  find, 
Are  pleasures  to  the  dreary  void, 
The  leafless  desert  of  the  mind, 
The  waste  of  feelings  unemployed." — Byron. — The  Giaour. 

Much  of  his  leisure  time  at  Oaklands  (the  name  of  Colonel 
Ridgely's  seat)  was  spent  alone,  and  in  the  colonel's  well- 
stored  library.  One  effect  of  his  seclusion  was  that  he  was 
led  to  commune  much  with  his  own  heart.  By  this  means 
the  impressions  of  his  early  life  were  renewed,  though  with- 
out entirely  regaining  their  ascendency.  His  feelings  are 
laid  open,  at  this  period,  in  his  letters  to  his  friends.  While 
at  Brown  University  he  had  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
Miss  Peck,  whose  image  followed  him  in  his  banishment, 
and  for  whom  friendship  ripened  into  a  tenderer  affection. 
She  is  now  his  desolate  and  mourning  widow.  His  corre- 
spondence with  her  tended  greatly  to  re-awaken  and  confirm 
his  religious  feelings,  and  by  her  suggestions  the  subject  of 
the  ministry  was  brought  strongly  before  him.  His  mind, 
however,  was  not  settled,  either  as  to  his  personal  piety  or 
what  church  he  should  select.  His  correspondent  recom- 
mended to  him  Faber  on  the  Spirit  for  the  former,  and 
Hooker's  Ecclesiastical  Polity  and  the  Christian  Observer 
for  the  other.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

During  all  this  period  Mr.  Fisk  was  in  a  very  precarious 
state  of  health.  The  reader  will  not  have  forgotten  the 
cough  which  had  troubled  him  from  infancy.  Since  the 
commencement  of  his  collegiate  course  he  had  had  two  se- 
rious attacks  of  illness,  one  at  Burlington,  and  another  at 
Providence.  And  now,  in  the  month  of  March,  a  violent 
cold  developed  alarming  pulmonary  symptoms,  and  ulti- 
mately produced  a  copious  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs. 


■ 


44 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUIt  FISK. 


But  a  merciful  Providence  restored  him  from,  apparently, 
the  brink  of  the  grave.  By  the  advice  of  his  physicians,  he 
now  gave  up  his  situation  as  a  teacher,  and  returned  to  his 
native  climate.  What  was  more  trying  to  him,  was  the 
opinion  of  his  medical  advisers,  that  he  would  not  be  able 
to  pursue  any  profession  that  would  require  much  exercise 
of  the  vocal  organs.  Thus  his  cherished  hopes  and  ambitious 
projects  appeared  annihilated,  and  his  education  almost 
thrown  away ;  but  Providence  had  other  ends  in  view. 

He  left  Maryland  on  the  18th  May,  1817,  returning  home 
by  way  of  New- York,  Albany,  and  the  lakes  to  Burling- 
ton.   Here  he  had  farther  trials  awaiting  him.    God,  who 
"  correcteth  man  for  his  iniquities,"  had  yet  again  to  use  the 
rod  to  prepare  him  for  his  proper  destination.    At  Burling- 
ton he  had  a  renewed  hemorrhage.    He  lay  at  the  hotel, 
where  he  was  carefully  nursed  by  his  friends,  and  especially 
by  his  townsman,  George  Cahoon,  Esq.,  then  a  student  in 
the  University,  who  left  his  studies  and  devoted  himself  al- 
most exclusively  to  the  invalid.    His  case  was  very  alarm- 
ing, insomuch  that  for  a  time  little  hope  was  entertained  of 
his  recovery.    The  benevolent  inn-keeper  was  distressed  at 
the  thought  of  a  young  gentleman  dying  at  his  house,  far 
from  his  friends,  and  without  any  one  to  ascertain  his  pros- 
pects on  entering  the  world  of  spirits.    He  undertook  the 
office  of  his  spiritual  adviser,  and,  on  inquiring  into  his  state 
of  mind,  received  from  his  guest  an  assurance  that  he  was 
willing  to  die.    But  the  question  touched  him  to  the  quick. 
He  felt  that  his  willingness  to  die  arose,  not  from  any  assu- 
rance of  his  interest  in  the  Saviour,  but  only  from  disap- 
pointment and  dissatisfaction  in  life.    The  question  was  felt 
more  deeply,  because  the  questioner  should  rather  have 
been  his  pupil  than  his  instructer.    He  was  not  a  professor 
of  religion,  though  a  well-informed  son  of  an  officer  in  the 
Congregational  Church.     This  incident  produced  in  our 
subject  "  great  searchings  of  heart,"  and  wrung  from  him 
the  deep  groans  of  an  agonized  spirit.    As  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  travel,  his  father,  having  been  informed  of  his  situa- 
tion, came  and  conveyed  him  home,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
18th  June,  just  one  month  after  leaving  Baltimore. 


RESTORED  TO  THE  ENJOYMENT  OF  PIETY. 


45 


On  returning  to  Lyndon  a  new  scene  of  things  awaited 
him.  The  place  was  at  that  period  favoured,  under  the 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  Phinehas  Peck,  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
with  a  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Young 
and  old,  rich  and  poor,  learned  and  unlearned,  were  sub- 
jects of  the  work.  Several  of  Mr.  Fisk's  personal  friends 
were  among  the  number  ;  among  others,  the  late  Hon.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Deming,  and  Mr.,  now  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Cahoon. 
The  influence  that  pervaded  the  community  was  exceedingly 
powerful,  so  that,  as  was  supposed,  one  fifth  of  the  inhabi- 
tants professed  justifying  faith  in  Christ.  Mr.  Fisk  had  not 
been  long  at  home  before  his  mind  was  deeply  affected,  and 
all  the  associations  of  his  early  days  returned  with  greatly 
augmented  power.  His  distress  of  mind  at  first  was  very 
deep.  "  Never,"  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cahoon,  "  shall  I  forget 
his  sorrowful  countenance,  and  the  tears  he  shed  while  seek- 
ing restoration  to  the  favour  of  Him  whose  Spirit  he  had  so 
long  grieved.  No,  never ;  for  the  impression  is  as  vivid  in 
my  mind  almost  as  it  was  when  I  saw  the  tears  flowing 
down  his  emaciated  cheeks." 

In  this  state  of  mind,  though  unknown  to  many,  he  con- 
tinued several  days.  One  Sabbath  evening  he  remained, 
after  public  service,  at  a  conference-meeting.  It  was  a  time 
of  great  interest.  After  many  had  risen  to  speak,  to  the 
surprise  of  all  arose  young  Mr.  Fisk.  He  commenced  in  a 
tremulous  voice.  He  confessed  his  dereliction  from  early 
principles  and  purposes,  and  avowed  his  determination  to 
return  to  Him  "from  whom  he  had  deeply  revolted,"  and 
finally  announced  his  belief  that  God  for  Christ's  sake  had 
blotted  out  his  sins,  and  again  received  him  into  favour.  The 
effect  was  electric.  All  felt  an  interest  in  him ;  and  to  see 
him,  a  young  gentleman  of  interesting  appearance,  engaging 
manners,  finished  education,  blighted  hopes,  in  delicate  health, 
now  professing  anew  the  feelings  to  which  he  had  long  been 
a  stranger,  was  highly  exciting.  He  spoke  himself  with  in- 
tense emotion.  Tears  and  sobs  choked  his  utterance  ;  but 
every  broken  sentence  vibrated  upon  the  chords  of  some 
sympathizing  bosom.  A  sensation  pervaded  the  assembly 
that  scarcely  left  a  dry  eye  in  the  house.    Tears,  sobs,  and 


46 


LIFE  OF  WILLBTJR  FISK. 


exclamations  of  thankful  joy  were  heard  in  every  direction. 
He  was  now  filled  anew  "  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing ;" 
for  he  had  heard  the  voice  that  had  cried  to  him  in  various 
painful  dispensations,  "  Return,  ye  backsliding  children,  and 
I  will  heal  your  backslidings  ;"  and  he  had  said,  "  Behold, 
we  come  unto  thee,  for  thou  art  the  Lord  our  God."  And 
now  the  Lord  healed  his  backslidings,  and  loved  him  freely. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Fisk  had  entered  into  the  u  liberty  of  the 
sons  of  God,"  he  began  to  exert  himself  for  the  good  of 
others.  He  spent  as  much  of  his  time  as  his  strength 
would  permit  in  attending  religious  meetings  and  visiting 
the  awakened,  and  on  every  side  the  inquiry  was  heard, 
"  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  It  is  in  this  way  that 
Methodist  ministers  have  ever  been  trained  for  active  use- 
fulness in  their  vocation.  By  corning  into  close  contact  with 
the  minds  of  the  people,  conversing  much  with  them  in  their 
ordinary  language,  and  ascertaining  their  thoughts,  wants, 
and  feelings,  they  were  furnished  with  an  abundant  stock  of 
ideas  upon  the  most  important  topics,  and  topics,  too,  the 
most  interesting  to  those  who  look  upon  the  minister  as  an 
agent  of  their  salvation.  And  be  it  remembered,  however 
important  academic  or  theological  training  may  be  to  make 
an  "  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament,"  yet  he  will  be 
of  little  practical  utility  in  the  great  business  of  Christianity 
without  an  adequate  training  in  this  school  of  experience. 
How,  otherwise,  can  he  learn  to  preach  to  the  understand- 
ings and  feelings  of  the  populace  ?  He  may  study  books 
and  preach  learned  dissertations,  but  he  will  produce  in  his 
hearers  but  little  of  the  fruits  of  holiness. 

It  was  now  that  he  felt  a  renewed  conviction  of  duty  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  But  the  elements  of  this  feeling  were 
different  from  what  he  had  felt  before  he  went  to  Maryland. 
Now  it  sprang  from  a  simple  and  intense  love  for  souls. 
"  The  love  of  Christ  constrained"  him.  This  was  his  ani- 
mating impulse,  the  spring  of  his  duties.  Yet  he  was  far 
from  making  up  his  mind  instantaneously  or  rashly.  He 
consulted  his  health ;  he  inquired  with  much  prayer  what 
was  the  will  of  Heaven ;  but  his  mind  ultimately  settled 
down  into  the  conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  enter  the 


EXERCISES  ON   THE  MINISTRY. 


47 


ministry  in  the  church  in  whose  bosom  he  had  been  reared, 
and  by  whose  agency  he  had  been  reclaimed.  But  to  come 
to  this  determination  twenty  years  ago  required  rather  more 
decision  of  character  than  it  would  at  present,  and  a  great 
deal  more  in  a  person  of  Mr.  Fisk's  education  and  advanta- 
ges than  in  many  others.  The  same  external  action,  though 
designated  by  one  name,  does  not  always  involve  the  same 
internal  elements.  It  depends  on  the  nature  and  force  of 
conflicting  motives,  and  you  can  estimate  these  only  when 
you  fully  understand  the  mind  of  the  actor.  For  Peter  the 
fisherman,  and  the  learned,  elegant,  and  accomplished  pupil 
of  Gamaliel,  to  become  apostles  of  the  humble  Nazarene, 
involved  very  different  considerations.  In  all  such  cases,  in 
estimating  the  moral  force  exhibited,  it  ought  not  to  be  for- 
gotten that  the  compass  of  motives  is  in  the  ratio  of  the 
amount  of  mind.* 

Moreover,  the  step  he  contemplated  came  into  collision 
with  some  of  the  tenderest  and  strongest  feelings  of  the 
heart.  Miss  Peck,  to  whom  he  was  betrothed,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  knew  but  little 
of  the  economy  of  Methodism.  She  was  of  a  slender  con- 
stitution, and  had  been  very  delicately  brought  up.  He 
was  too  honourable  to  involve  her  in  difficulty  and  embar- 
rassment without  her  knowledge,  and  therefore  candidly 
stated  to  her  his  convictions  and  circumstances.  "  When 
you  gave  me,"  he  writes  to  her,  September  13, 1817,  "when 
you  gave  me  an  undivided  heart,  you  knew  not  to  whom  you 
gave  it.  If  my  health  is  restored,  I  expect  I  shall  try,  by  the 
assistance  of  Heaven,  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  know  not 
what  denomination  I  shall  commence  preaching  among,  but 
think  most  probably  among  the  Methodists.  I  shall  make 
this  a  subject  of  prayer,  and  entreat  God  to  show  me  my 
duty.  If  I  am  convinced  that  among  this  people  I  shall  be 
most  in  the  way  of  my  duty,  with  them  I  shall  continue  ;  for, 
though  I  could  have  a  much  better  living  with  almost  any 
other  denomination,  yet  I  am  determined  to  do  my  duty  at 
the  loss  of  all  things."  In  another  letter  (October  27),  allu- 
ding to  some  of  Miss  Peck's  denominational  scruples  about 
*  Saturday  Evening. 


48 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


their  union,  he  says,  "  I  should  love  you  less  if  you  felt 
differently.  You  must  certainly  act  conscientiously.  Those 
who  come  together  from  interest  or  passion  make  out  to 
get  along,  I  know  not  how,  without  being  united  in  prin- 
ciple. Bat  we  must  act  differently.  My  friend  may  dif- 
fer from  me  in  principle  and  in  form ;  yet,  if  his  heart  is 
right,  I  can  still  love  him.  I  can  give  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship to  my  Christian  neighbour,  though  we  belong  to 
different  churches  ;  but  I  wish  the  partner  of  my  bosom  not 
only  to  worship  the  same  God  with  me,  but  to  kneel  at  the 
same  altar."  On  three  points,  especially,  Miss  Peck  felt 
dubious  about  the  doctrines  of  Methodism,  viz.,  final  perse- 
verance, Christian  perfection,  and  human  depravity.  On  the 
last  two  her  difficulties  had  been  augmented  by  a  discourse 
recently  preached  in  Providence,  which  was  either  very  un- 
guarded, or,  which  is  at  least  quite  as  probable,  had  been 
misconstrued.  Thus  he  speaks  of  them  :  u  I  must  frankly 
tell  you,  that,  with  my  present  views,  if  I  am  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  I  must  preanh  the  doctrines  of  holiness  of  heart  and 
the  danger  of  falling  from  grace  properly  explained  and  un- 
derstood. You  must  have  misunderstood  Mr.  O.,  or  he  must 
have  misunderstood  himself  when  he  said  he  was  perfectly 
holy,  and  denied  total  depravity.  Perfect  holiness  belongs 
only  to  God.  The  Methodists  hold  to  no  such  perfection 
for  men  in  this  world  ;  nor  do  they  believe  that  the  perfec- 
tion of  glorified  saints  or  angels,  or  that  the  purity  of  our 
first  parents  in  Paradise,  can  be  attained  here.  But  they 
believe  that '  Christ's  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin  !'  and  that 
this  cleansing  is  effected  in  this  world,  or  never.*  They  do 
not  deny  that  men  are  naturally  totally  depraved,  but  main- 
tain the  doctrine  strongly ;  and  that,  without  the  influences 
of  God's  Spirit,  man  can  no  more  think  a  good  thought  or 
do  a  good  act  than  he  can  create  a  world.  So  that  I  think 
your  previously-received  impression  must,  inadvertently, 
have  misinterpreted  Mr.  O.'s  expressions,  which  perhaps 
were  not  clearly  communicated.  I  could  say  something 
upon  the  danger  of  falling  from  grace,  but  this  may  not  be 

*  "  The  term  sinless  perfection  the  Methodists  who  understand  themselves  do 
not  use.  It  conveys  to  many  a  meaning  which  they  by  no  means  intend  to  in- 
culcate." 


A  STRANGE  FRIEND. 


49 


interesting  at  the  present  time.  Another  opportunity  may- 
present  itself.  If  you  could  obtain  the  fifth  and  sixth  vol- 
umes of  Fletcher's  Checks,  or  a  little  volume  called  Doc- 
trinal Tracts,  or  some  of  the  older  editions  of  the  Methodist 
Discipline,  and  Wesley  on  Original  Sin,  you  might  get  a 
correct  idea  of  the  Methodists'  belief  respecting  the  above 
doctrines,  and  perhaps  get  some  ideas  upon  the  subjects  that 
have  not  occurred  to  you." 

But  he  had  other  obstacles  to  his  purpose.  His  old  col- 
lege friends,  when  they  heard  of  it,  were  astonished  beyond 
measure,  and  raised  a  violent  outcry.  One  of  these  under- 
took to  write  him  a  letter  of  expostulation,  from  which,  it 
seems,  he  was  wonderfully  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his  friend's 
determination,  until  the  idea  of  ambition  came  to  his  relief. 
"  Fisk,"  he  writes,  "I  know  your  ambition  too  well;  it  is 
exorbitant.  And  here  I  can  solve  the  enigma.  I  fear,  like 
the  patron  saint  of  your  order,  John  Wesley,  you  have  given 
yourself  up  to  a  disposition  to  1  rule  in  hell'  rather  than  '  serve 
in  heaven  !'  "  Alas  for  logic  and  common  sense  !  What 
was  there  in  the  prospects  of  Mr.  Wesley  or  Mr.  Fisk  at  the 
making  of  their  choice  to  tempt  ambition  ?  Both  had  be- 
fore them  the  prospect  of  the  highest  eminence  in  a  much 
more  elevated  walk  of  life,  and  the  former  even  the  offer  of 
patronage  and  preferment  in  the  National  Church.  Could 
mortal  foresight  have  divined  that  they  would  rise  to  their 
subsequeat  eminence  and  notoriety  ?  This  mode  of  reason- 
ing would  equally  convict  the  Jewish  lawgiver  and  the  great 
apostle  of  the  Gentiles ;  for  both  renounced  brilliant  pros- 
pects, and  attained  a  much  brighter  fame  in  a  department 
where  entire  purity  of  motive  and  deadness  to  the  voice  of 
fame  were  essential  to  success.  His  friend  seems  to  have 
had  in  view  Caesar's  willingness  to  be  the  first  man  in  a  vil- 
lage rather  than  the  second  man  at  Rome  ;  but  he  forgot 
that  Caesar's  ambition  would  not  stoop  so  low  while  he  had  a 
hope  of  being  the  first  man  at  Rome.  Mr.  Fisk  replied  to 
this  singular  billet  of  seven  pages  with  dignity  and  good  feel- 
ing ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  letter  is  lost.  But  at  the  close 
of  it  he  told  him  that,  as  it  was  probable  he  would  outlive 
him  (Mr.  F.),  if  at  any  time  he  should  chance  to  find  in  some 
5  "  G 


50 


LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 


obscure  place  the  "  Itinerant's  Grave,"  he  might  inscribe 
upon  it,  if  he  saw  fit,  "  There  lies  one  who,  like  John  Wes- 
ley, the  patron  saint  of  his  order,  chose  rather  to  reign  in 
hell  than  serve  in  heaven,"  but  he  must  be  sure  to  add  that 
this  epitaph  was  written  by  his  friend.  This  letter  seems  to 
have  moderated  his  feelings,  as  he  replied  in  a  softened  tone, 
and  invited  him  to  the  village  in  which  he  resided,  to  be- 
come reader  in  the  Episcopal  Church  which  he  attended, 
then  destitute  of  a  clergyman,  where  he  might  have  a  good 
support  until  he  should  be  ready  to  take  orders.  But  he  did 
not  yet  understand  the  principles  and  motives  of  his  corre- 
spondent ;  nor  is  it  likely  that  he  ever  learned  them,  for  he 
lived  but  a  few  years,  and  they  never  met  again.  It  is  not 
very  strange,  though  worthy  of  observation,  that  this  gen- 
tleman, who  predicted  that  Mr.  Fisk  would  obtain  neither 
honour,  profit,  nor  enjoyment  in  the  course  he  had  chosen, 
should  himself  have  lived  in  obscurity,  and  died  unknown  to 
fame.* 

*  As  Mr.  Fisk's  friend  is  not  the  only  one  who  has  alleged  the  sin  of  ambition 
against  Mr.  Wesley,  I  insert  in  this  note  the  testimony  of  one — a  Christian,  a 
scholar,  and  a  gentleman — who  knew  him  well,  and  was  well  qualified  to  appre- 
ciate him.  I  allude  to  Alexander  Knox,  Esq.,  the  private  secretary  of  Lord  Castle- 
reagh,  and  the  bosom  friend  of  Bishop  Jebb.  In  his  "  Thirty  Years'  Correspond- 
ence" with  his  friend,  he  says,  "  Now  I  speak  of  the  Quarterly,  how  am  I  provo- 
ked, in  reading  the  first  article,  at  those  tasteless  allegations  of  ambition  and 
vanity,  on  which  the  reviewer,  leaving  S.  (Southey)  behind,  rings  the  changes 
(nay,  I  might  say,  what  ringers  call  a  bob-major)  on  those  supposed  vices  of  my 
old  friend's  character.  "Why  will  they  not  see  that  the  virtues  which  they  ascribe 
to  him  are  incompatible  with  the  vices  which  they  seem  to  take  pleasure  in  im- 
puting 1  '  No  man  can  serve  two  masters.'  To  suppose,  as  they 'do,  that  John 
Wesley  acted  at  one  and  the  same  time,  in  one  and  the  same  exertion,  from  love 
to  God  and  man,  and  a  love  which  is  just  as  opposite  to  these  as  a  love  of  money 
or  of  sensuality,  is  to  imagine  a  monster  in  the  moral  world  less  credible  than 
the  centaur  in  the  natural.  I  wish  I  knew  how  best  to  stamp  on  this  evidence 
of  reason  my  peculiar  evidence  of  the  fact,  before  I  follow  my  venerable  old  friend 
into  that  country  where  only  as  yet  his  worth  and  moment  can  be  adequately 
appreciated." — Letter  162. 

Again:  "My  whole  soul  rises  against  these  vile  allegations  of  ambition  and 
vanity,  above  both  of  which  my  precious  old  friend  soared  as  much  as  the  eagle 
above  the  glow-worm.  Great  minds  are  not  vain  ;  and  his  was  a  great  mind,  if 
any  mind  can  be  made  great  by  disinterested  benevolence,  spotless  purity,  and 
simple  devotedness  to  that  one  Supreme  Good  in  whom,  with  the  united  aiadrjci^ 
of  the  philosopher  and  the  saint,  he  saw,  and  loved,  and  adored  all  that  was  in- 
finitely amiable,  true,  sublime,  and  beatific.  How  little  do  they  know  of  the 
human  mind  who  could  imagine  such  a  spirit  liable  to  the  petty  gravitations  of 
animal  man."— Ibid.,  Letter  163. 


LICENSED  TO  PREACH. 


51 


Mr.  Fisk  now  devoted  himself  to  a  course  of  study  suited 
to  his  sacred  purposes.  He  re-examined  his  theological 
system,  and  adopted  no  views  without  sufficient  evidence  of 
their  correctness.  As  an  evidence  of  his  solicitude  and  im- 
partiality, we  have  the  following  fact :  He  had  a  friend,  Mr. 
David  Gould,  who  had  succeeded  him  in  Mr.  Fletcher's 
office,  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  a 
decided  Calvinist.  With  this  gentleman  he  opened  a  corre- 
spondence on  the  points  in  debate  between  Calvinists  and 
Arminians,  and  carried  it  to  a  considerable  extent.  It  was 
intended  purely  as  a  trial  of  the  merits  of  the  case ;  for  he 
distinctly  avowed  that,  should  his  friendly  opponent  succeed 
in  maintaining  his  doctrines,  he  would  adopt  and  preach 
them.  "Although,"  says  Mr.  Gould,  "he  failed  to  convince 
me,  he  left  on  my  mind  no  doubt  that  he  was  firmly  and 
conscientiously  attached  to  his  own  opinions,  and  that  he 
would  prove  an  able  supporter  of  them." 

During  this  period  Mr.  Fisk's  health  was  gradually  im- 
proving, insomuch  that  in  a  few  months  he  began  to  officiate 
as  an  exhorter.  Having,  by  suitable  probation  in  this  office, 
given  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  "  gifts,  grace,  and  useful- 
ness," he  was,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1818,  duly  licensed  by 
the  Quarterly-meeting  Conference  of  the  Lyndon  Circuit  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  To  a  certain  class  of  readers  it  may 
appear  that  this  indicates  but  a  superficial  qualification  for 
the  work  he  was  undertaking,  and  too  much  indifference  to 
theological  knowledge.  But  there  are  few  common  topics 
on  which  more  or  greater  mistakes  are  made  than  on  the 
views  of  ministerial  education  held  by  the  Methodist  Church. 
We  do  not  mean  to  deny  that  the  standard  is  too  low,  nor 
need  Ave  explain  how  this  arose.  A  conviction  of  the  fact 
the  Church  is  exhibiting  by  her  efforts  to  elevate  it.  Never- 
theless, there  are  some  things  pertaining  to  this  subject  of 
which  the  world  in  general  is  not  aware,  and  which  are 
certainly  deserving  of  consideration.  In  their  method,  as 
given  above,  of  "  making  proof  of  their  ministry,"  since  a 
person's  natural  talents,  energy,  and  piety  are  practically 
tested,  there  is  a  strong  guard  against  the  intrusion  of  mere 
drones  into  the  sacred  office.    In  the  next  place,  the  Rules 


52 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


of  the  Church  are  very  strict  and  express  in  requiring  mental 
improvement  in  its  ministers.  The  directions  given  to  them 
are  contained  in  the  Book  of  Discipline,  at  the  16th  section 
of  the  first  chapter,  and  are  as  follows : 

"  SECTION  XVI. 

"  Of  employing  our  Time  profitably,  when  we  are  not  Travelling,  or  engaged  in 
Public  Exercises. 

"  Quest.  L  What  general  method  of  employing  our  time 
shall  we  advise  ? 

u  Ans.  We  advise  you,  1.  As  often  as  possible  to  rise  at 
four.  2.  From  four  to  five  in  the  morning,  and  from  five  to 
six  in  the  evening,  to  meditate,  pray,  and  read  the  Scriptures 
with  notes,  and  the  closely  practical  parts  of  what  Mr.  Wes- 
ley has  published.  3.  From  six  in  the  morning  till  twelve 
(allowing  an  hour  for  breakfast),  read,  with  much  prayer, 
some  of  our  best  religious  tracts  (works). 

"  Quest.  2.  Why  is  it  that  the  people  under  our  care  are 
not  better  ? 

"  Ans.  Other  reasons  may  concur,  but  the  chief  is,  because 
we  are  not  more  knowing  and  more  holy. 

"  Quest.  3.  But  why  are  we  not  more  knowing  ? 

"  Ans.  Because  we  are  idle.  We  forget  our  first  rule, 
1  Be  diligent.  Never  be  unemployed.  Never  be  triflingly 
employed.  Neither  spend  any  more  time  at  any  place  than 
is  strictly  necessary.'  We  fear  there  is  altogether  a  fault  in 
this  matter,  and  that  few  of  us  are  clear.  Which  of  us  spend 
as  many  hours  a  day  in  God's  work  as  we  did  formerly  in 
man's  work  ?  We  talk,  talk,  or  read  what  comes  next  to 
hand.  We  must,  absolutely  must,  cure  this  evil,  or  betray 
the  cause  of  God.  But  how  ?  1.  Read  the  most  useful 
books,  and  that  regularly  and  constantly.  2.  Steadily  spend 
all  the  morning  in  this  employment,  or  at  least  five  hours  in 
the  four-and-twenty.  1  But  I  have  no  taste  for  reading.' 
Contract  a  taste  for  it  by  use,  or  return  to  your  former  em- 
ployment" 

Does  the  reader  inquire  what  is  the  range  of  studies  con- 
templated in  these  directions  ?    He  may  form  some  idea 


THEOLOGICAL  TRAINING. 


53 


from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Wesley  himself  wrote  not  less  than 
sixteen  fair-sized  8vo  volumes,  including  a  Compendium  of 
Logic,  and  grammars  of  five  different  languages,  besides  run- 
ning annotations  on  the  entire  Bible,  and  an  extensive  Com- 
pilation on  Natural  Philosophy.  In  addition  to  these,  he 
published  "A  Christian  Library,"  in  fifty  volumes  12mo, 
consisting  of  selections  from  the  best  works,  ancient  and 
modern,  on  practical  theology.  And  if  he  will  consider 
that  even  these  would  be  exhausted  in  a  few  years  by  the 
above  course,  he  will  interpret  the  phrase  "  best  religious 
tracts"  to  include  every  kind  of  information  needful  to  ren- 
der the  mind  "  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works." 
In  fact,  so  it  ever  has  been  understood  by  our  most  eminent 
and  successful  ministers. 

It  is  a  farther  advantage  in  this  plan  that  it  is  to  end  only 
with  life.  The  Methodist  minister  should  never  consider 
his  education  completed,  and  then  sit  down  in  idleness.  He 
is  to  keep  up  a  vigorous  mental  action  by  constant  habits  of 
renovating  study.  And,  lastly,  which  is  not  the  slightest 
consideration,  his  knowledge  is  to  be  gained  for  immediate 
practical  uses.  This,  in  many  points  of  view,  is  of  great 
importance.  It  contributes  greatly  to  mental  development. 
The  mind,  to  be  vigorous,  must  be  kept  in  a  state  of  tension 
by  lively  interest,  and  no  interest  is  so  lively  as  that  which 
springs  from  fully  awakened  religious  sensibilities.  It  tends 
not  less  to  render  the  knowledge  acquired  efficient  in  the 
improvement  of  the  heart,  since  it  is  thus  kept  in  close  con- 
tact with  the  affections.  Where  theology  is  not  studied  with 
this  view,  where  it  is  pursued  only  professionally  or  scientifi- 
cally, the  tendency  must  be  deadening  ;  and  that  must  be  a 
very  defective  theological  training  which  develops  the  in- 
tellectual faculties  at  the  expense  of  the  religious  sensibili- 
ties, since  so  much  of  the  minister's  usefulness  depends  on 
the  condition  of  his  heart.  Hence  the  truth  and  excellence 
of  the  observations  of  Mr.  Orme :  ' 4  It  is  a  matter  of  regret 
that  theology  is  often  studied  more  with  a  view  to  the  benefit 
of  others  than  of  the  student  himself.  It  is  pursued  as  a 
profession  rather  than  as  belonging  to  personal  character 
and  enjoyment.  Hence  it  frequently  produces  a  pernicious 
5* 


54 


LIFE   OF  "WILL-BUR  FISK. 


instead  of  a  salutary  effect  on  the  mind,  and  debases  rather 
than  elevates  the  character.  Familiarity  with  Divine  things, 
which  does  not  arise  from  personal  interest  in  them,  is  to  be 
dreaded  more  than  most  evils  to  which  man  is  liable."* 

Nor  ought  we  to  omit  the  influence  of  the  itinerant  sys- 
tem on  the  mental  character.  The  limited  resources  of  his 
preachers  led  Mr.  Wesley  to  adopt  it,  and  the  expedient 
has  proved  a  wise  one.  For  economizing  and  distributing 
the  talent  of  the  ministry,  for  giving  constant  impulse  to 
the  mind,  and  for  improvement  in  sermonizing,  it  has  deci- 
ded advantages.  It  can  be  easily  seen,  also,  that  an  itinera- 
ting minister  has  greater  opportunities  for  enlarging  his 
mental  stores  than  one  who,  being  settled,  has  two  or  three 
new  sermons  a  week  to  prepare.  To  be  sure,  a  man  in 
either  case  may  become  a  drone  ;  but  then  a  travelling 
drone  is,  after  all,  preferable  to  a  drone  stationary. 

The  success  of  this  experiment  in  the  Methodist  ministry 
can  scarcely  be  denied  ;  for,  whatever  opinion  may  be  en- 
tertained of  their  improvement  in  learning,  no  one  will  deny 
that  they  have  been  eminently  successful  in  enlarging  the 
boundaries  of  Messiah's  kingdom.  And,  considering  their 
recent  origin,  and  the  nature  of  the  work  they  have  been 
engaged  in,  they  have  probably  contributed  their  full  share 
to  the  stores  of  human  knowledge.  We  do  not  deny  that 
improvements  may  be  made,  nay,  are  imperiously  demand- 
ed, in  our  system ;  but  then  it  must  be  by  addition,  and  not 
by  substitution. 

As  these  observations  seemed  requisite  to  set  our  subject's 
course  and  character  in  a  proper  light,  we  trust  the  reader 
will  excuse  them.  Such  were,  in  fact,  the  views  with  which 
he  began  his  labours.  Having  an  ample  foundation  of  class- 
ical, scientific,  and  general  literature,  he  now  devoted  him- 
self assiduously  to  the  acquisition  of  theological  knowledge. 
Hi.?  mind  soon  became  impregnated  with  the  sentiments 
and  spirit  of  our  early  ministers.  His  first  sermon  was  de- 
livered in  the  schoolhousef  at  Lyndon  Corner,  in  the  begin- 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Richard  Baxter,  vol.  i.,  p.  8 ;  London,  1830. 
t  The  building,  when  I  visited  it,  was  in  ruins,  having  been  destroyed  by  fire 
in  the  spring  of  1840. 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER. 


ning  of  February,  1818.  It  was  on  the  text,  "  Who  is  suf- 
ficient for  these  things  ?" — 2  Corinthians,  ii.,  16.  The  scope 
of  the  sermon  was  to  show  the  obligations,  duties,  trials,  and 
supports  of  the  Christian  minister,  and  greatly  were  the  con- 
gregation surprised  at  the  deep,  clear,  and  mature  views 
which  he  presented.  To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peck  especially,  un- 
der whose  labours  he  had  entered  anew  upon  the  Christian 
profession,  it  was  a  high  gratification.  He  listened  to  him 
with  manifest  surprise  and  delight. 

Having  thus  commenced  his  work,  he  soon  attracted  great 
attention.  This  might  have  been  expected.  His  physical 
advantages  were  decidedly  superior.  His  person  was  good, 
his  manner  agreeable,  his  countenance  deeply  expressive 
both  of  intellect  and  devotion,  and  the  effect  was  heightened 
by  his  emaciated  and  sepulchral  appearance.  He  also  pos- 
sessed a  remarkably  fine  voice.  Its  compass  and  power 
were  not  very  great,  but  its  pathetic  tones  extremely  touch- 
ing. "  There  was,"  says  a  gentleman,  now  a  clergyman  in 
another  church,  who  frequently  heard  him  at  that  time,  "  a 
zeal,  a  pathos  in  his  eloquence  which  always  touched  the 
youthful  heart.  He  had  certain  tones  of  voice  which  all  felt 
accorded  well  with  the  story  of  Christ's  dying  love."  His 
sermons,  even  at  this  early  period,  were  distinguished  by 
good  sense,  concatenated  thought,  clear  exhibitions  of  evan- 
gelical truth  and  duty,  and  were  delivered  in  a  style  of  great 
pungency  and  power.  All  his  discourses  evinced  a  vehe- 
ment desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls ;  and  of  his  sincerity 
there  could  be  no  doubt,  for  he  was  one  of  them 

"  Whose  doctrine  and  whose  life, 
Coincident,  exhibit  lucid  proof 
That  they  are  honest  in  the  sacred  cause." 

No  wonder  that,  with  these  qualifications,  he  rose  rapidly 
in  public  favour.  Indeed,  he  soon  stood  forth  pre-eminent 
in  acceptability  and  usefulness.  It  was  a  great  beauty  in 
him  that  all  this  was  without  any  apparent  effort  to  be  great, 
or  of  consciousness  that  he  was  so  regarded.  He  appeared, 
as  he  really  was,  solely  intent  upon  the  fulfilment  of  his 
commission.  The  impression  made  on  his  auditors  harmo- 
nized with  an  apostle's  language,  "  We  preach  not  ourselves., 


56 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord  ;  and  ourselves  your  servants  for 
Jesus'  sake." 

His  parents  were  now  highly  gratified,  for  the  father's 
wishes  and  mother's  prayers  were  both  fulfilled.  Yet  these 
judicious  and  worthy  parents  never  let  their  son  discern  the 
height  of  their  admiration.  Nay,  they  took  the  utmost  pains 
to  prevent  him  from  feeling  that  he  was  an  object  of  atten- 
tion, and  from  forming  a  high  opinion  of  his  own  powers. 
For  this  purpose  his  mother  especially,  when  he  received 
any  commendation,  would  always  name  some  defect ;  or,  if 
his  superiority  was  mentioned,  she  would  suggest  a  compari- 
son with  one  much  before  him  in  age  and  experience.  In- 
deed, the  torrents  of  applause  he  received  seemed  to  quicken 
the  good  lady's  perception  of  his  faults  to  such  a  degree,  that 
the  family  really  began  to  think  that  she  had,  after  all,  but  a 
slender  opinion  of  her  son's  performances.  The  mistake 
was  corrected  in  a  rather  singular  manner.  One  day  she 
received  a  letter  from  one  of  her  sisters,  informing  her  that 
her  son  had  become  a  minister,  and  expressing  a  wish  that 
she  (Mrs.  Fisk)  could  hear  him,  as  she  thought  him  an  ex- 
cellent preacher.  When  she  had  read  this  paragraph  she 
involuntarily  placed  the  letter  in  her  lap,  and  as  with  the 
other  hand  she  raised  her  spectacles  from  her  eyes,  she  said, 
with  all  the  feeling  of  a  mother,  "  Sister  B.  has  never  heard 
my  son  !"  The  remark  fell  like  a  ray  of  light  upon  a  dark 
spot.  It  exhibited  at  once  the  rigid  prudence  of  the  humble 
Christian,  and  the  deep  emotion  of  the  admiring  parent. 

Some  account  of  his  own  views  of  himself,  and  of  his  new 
relation  to  mankind,  is  contained  in  the  following  extract  of 
a  letter  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Palmer,  dated  February  6,  1818  : 

"  Yes,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  your  unworthy  nephew  has 
commenced  preaching.  Next  Sabbath  will  be  the  fifth  time 
that  I  have  attempted  to  speak  in  public,  in  obedience  to  that 
injunction  which  I  think  I  feel  laid  upon  me,  '  Go  preach  the 
Gospel.'  Nothing  but  a  sense  of  duty  would  have  induced 
me  to  undertake  the  arduous  and  highly-responsible  duties 
of  the  Gospel  ministry.  I  may  be  deceived,  but  I  think 
'  necessity  is  laid  upon  me ;  yea,  wo  is  me  if  I  preach  not 
the  Gospel.'    Yet  I  feel  myself  very  unworthy,  very  inca- 


EXERCISES  ON  PREACHING.  57 

pable  of  this  office.  I  lack  understanding  ;  I  lack  wisdom ; 
above  all,  that  wisdom  that  cometh  from  above.  I  have  too 
little  devotion,  too  little  piety.  A  minister  of  the  Gospel 
ought  to  be  completely  given  up  to  the  work.  He  ought  to 
have  such  an  intercourse  with  Heaven  that  the  world  will 
be  all  beneath  his  feet.  He  ought  to  have  so  much  of  the 
spirit  of  his  Master  as  to  soar  above  the  party  spirit  that  too 
much  prevails  among  professed  Christians,  and  not  forbid 
any  that  he  may  find  casting  out  devils  because  they  follow 
not  us." 

We  have  already  said  that  Mr.  Fisk  did  not  resolve  on 
devoting  himself  to  the  ministry  without  suitable  considera- 
tion and  much  inward  conflict.  Happily,  we  have  an  in- 
sight into  his  inmost  feelings  upon  this  subject.  It  is  afford- 
ed by  a  paper  containing  his  reflections,  thrown  into  the  form 
of  a  dialogue  between  himself  and  his  Divine  Master,  in 
which  his  objections  to  the  step  are  stated  and  answered. 
This  dialogue  he  once  rehearsed,  in  the  year  1838,  as  though 
it  related  to  another  person,  at  a  meeting  which  he  attended, 
of,  I  believe,  the  Preachers'  Aid  Society  in  the  City  of  Bal- 
timore : 

"dialogue. 

"  Christ.  Go  preach  my  Gospel. 
"  Answer.  But,  Lord,  I  have  other  engagements. 
"  C.  You  are  not  your  own  ;  you  are  bought  with  a  price. 
"  A.  But,  Lord,  I  have  been  preparing  myself  for  another  profession.    I  have 
been  struggling  for  an  education.    I  have  high  prospects  before  me,  &c. 
"  C.  What  have  you  that  you  have  not  received  1 

"  A.  Lord,  I  have  strong  domestic  feelings,  and  I  hope  one  day  to  have  a  fam- 
ily and  home  of  my  own. 

"  C.  He  that  loveth  houses  or  lands,  wife  or  children  more  than  me,  is  not 
worthy  of  me. 

"  A.  Lord,  I  have  aged  parents,  and  I  am  an  only  son.  Filial  love  and  duty 
require  that  I  should  look  after  them. 

"  C.  He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me. 
"A.  Lord,  is  there  no  excuse  1    May  not  another  answer1? 
"  C.  The  gifts  and  callings  of  God  are  without  repentance. 
"A.  At  least,  let  me  first  stop  and  bury  my  father  and  mother. 
"  C.  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead. 

"  A.  At  any  rate,  I  must  wait  a  while,  and  acquire  some  property,  &c. 
"  C.  He  that  putteth  his  hand  to  the  plough  and  looketh  back,  is  not  fit  for  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven. 
"  A.  Lord,  I  cannot  go. 

H 


58 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  C.  Wo  unto  you  if  you  preach  not  the  Gospel. 

"  A.  But,  Lord,  wilt  thou  not  pity  a  poor  helpless  wretch,  who  begs  for  an  ex- 
cuse as  one  would  plead  for  his  life  1 

"  C.  'Ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  though  he  was  rich, 
for  your  sakes  he  became  poor,  that  ye  through  his  poverty  might  be  made  rich.' 

"  Here"  (as  he  related  the  circumstance  in  Baltimore)  "  the 
dialogue  ended.  The  young  man  covered  his  face  with  his 
hands,  and  bursting  into  tears,  cried, 

"  '  Nay,  but  I  yield,  I  yield.' 

"  The  bond  was  signed  and  sealed,  and  the  youth  was  con- 
signed over,  soul  and  body,  to  the  Church.  The  next  thing 
I  saw  of  him,  he  was  threading  a  pathless  forest  among  the 
Green  Mountains,  bordering  upon  the  Canada  line,  driving 
his  horse  before  him  because  of  the  roughness  of  the  wilder- 
ness, cheerful  as  an  angel  on  an  errand  of  mercy.  And  I 
heard  his  song,  with  which  he  made  the  ragged  mountain 
tops  that  hung  over  his  path  reverberate ;  and  what,  sir,  do 
you  think  it  was  ? 

'"No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess, 
Nor  cottage  in  this  wilderness, 

A  poor  wayfaring  man  : 
I  lodge  a  while  in  tents  below, 
Or  gladly  wander  to  and  fro, 

Till  I  my  Canaan  gain. 

Nothing  on  earth  I  call  my  own, 
A  stranger  to  the  world  unknown, 

I  all  their  goods  despise  ; 
I  trample  on  their  whole  delight, 
And  seek  a  city  out  of  sight, 

A  city  in  the  skies.'  " 


APPOINTED  TO  CRAFTSBURY. 


59 


CHAPTER  III. 

Craftsbury  Circuit. — Exposure  and  Incidents. — Letters. — Oharlestown. — 
Resolutions. — Christian  Perfection. — Correspondence. 

Mr.  Fisk's  first  field  of  labour  was  Craftsbury  Circuit,  at 
the  distance  of  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  from  his  fa- 
ther's house.  He  was  appointed  to  this  place  by  the  presi- 
ding elder.  Craftsbury  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  Orleans 
county.  It  contained  an  intelligent  and  respectable,  though 
small  population.  The  state  of  religion  was  very  low,  and 
Methodism  was  scarcely  known  except  as  a  term  of  reproach. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  April,  1318,  that  he  took  his  de- 
parture from  his  father's  dwelling.  The  parting  scene  be- 
tween him  and  his  aged  parents  at  the  commencement  of  his 
itinerant  ministry  was  very  affecting.  He  was  not  going  to 
be  established  in  ease  and  comfort,  in  a  respectable  position 
in  society,  with  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  most  influ- 
ential on  his  side.  He  was  to  encounter  the  responsibilities, 
the  hardships,  the  meager  support,  the  uncertain  reception, 
and  certain  obloquy  of  a  Methodist  minister,  at  a  period  in 
the  Church's  history  when  the  step  he  took  required  the 
courage  of  a  hero  and  the  devotion  of  a  martyr.  But  we 
cannot  describe  the  scene.  The  reader  must  imagine  it ; 
or,  if  he  choose,  he  may  find  a  description  ready  to  his  hand 
in  Dr.  Fisk's  sermon  on  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Hyde. 

His  preaching  in  Craftsbury  was  at  first  in  a  private  d  well- 
ing, and  afterward  in  the  courthouse.  He  preached  three 
sermons  the  first  week.  But,  not  seeing  immediate  fruit,  he 
began  to  inquire,  "  Lord,  hast  thou  sent  me  here  ?  Is  my 
work  done  ?  Must  I  leave  this  people  ?  O  what  darkness  ! 
Why  did  I  leave  my  friends,  and  come  into  this  inhospitable 
clime,  where  hearts  are  colder  than  the  snow  that  covers 
these  mountains,  and  harder  than  the  rocks  that  lock  them 
together  ?  I  have  mistaken  my  errand.  O  my  God  ! 
strengthen  me  to  fill  my  appointments,  and  I  will  then  re- 


60 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


turn."  But  he  preached  with  redoubled  effort  and  power, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  desire  of  his  heart  was  given  him. 
A  revival  of  religion  broke  out  and  spread  through  the 
place,  pervading  all  classes,  and  in  a  few  months  a  respecta- 
ble and  efficient  church  was  organized.  A  place  of  worship 
was  afterward  erected,  and  it  is  now,  and  has  been  for  many 
years,  one  of  the  most  prominent  stations  in  that  region. 
The  subjects  of  this  revival  were  remarkable  for  constancy 
and  usefulness  in  their  profession.  Several  became  distin- 
guished in  the  Church,  and  two,  at  least,  have  been  for  many 
years  engaged  in  the  sacred  ministry. 

While  in  Craftsbury  he  was  not  less  diligent  in  pastoral 
visiting  than  faithful  in  the  pulpit.  His  visits  were  not  mere 
formal  calls :  he  sought  the  edification  of  his  people.  Yet 
his  religion  did  not  make  him  ascetic  :  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  cheerful,  affable,  and  affectionate.  He  took  an  interest 
in  whatever  related  to  his  people,  and  by  showing  some  in- 
terest in  trivial  things,  he  found  a  readier  access  to  their 
hearts.  Thus  he  gained  the  affection  and  confidence  of  all, 
young  and  old  ;  for 

"  Even  children  followed  with  endearing  wile, 
And  plucked  his  gown  to  share  the  good  man's  smile." 

But  it  was  the  lot  of  our  subject  to  suffer  something  from 
the  strife  of  tongues.  The  work  of  the  Spirit,  as  might  be 
supposed,  was  designated  by  various  hard  names,  while  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  old  order  of  things,  being  very  in- 
dignant and  lachrymose  at  the  recent  innovations,  exclaim- 
ed, "  That  Fisk  has  been  about  here,  and  has  undone  in  a 
few  months  all  that  our  minister  has  done  in  twelve  years." 
Some  even  made  attempts  to  tarnish  his  reputation.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  he  was  happy  in  possessing  the  friend- 
ship and  warm  support  of  many  of  the  most  intelligent  and 
respectable  people  in  the  place. 

We  may  here  introduce  one  or  two  incidents  illustrative 
of  Mr.  Fisk's  peculiar  self-possession  and  promptitude.  A 
lady  at  whose  house  he  often  stayed  was,  unfortunately,  sub- 
ject to  temporary  fits  of  insanity.  During  one  of  these  at- 
tacks she  one  day  rushed  to  him  with  a  large,  sharp-pointed 
butcher's  or  carving-knife  in  her  hand.    Persons  who  were 


INCIDENTS. 


61 


present  saw  it  and  trembled.  Stepping  hastily  up  to  Mr. 
Fisk,  she  tore  open  his  vest  and  shirt-bosom  ere  he  was 
aware,  and  placing  the  sharp  point  to  his  skin,  said,  "  You 
must  die.  You  talk  so  much  of  Heaven,  I  am  going  to  send 
you  there;  for  you  are  too  good  to  live."  Without  quailing 
in  the  least,  he  looked  her  calmly  and  steadily  in  the  face. 
She  paused  for  some  time,  when,  removing  the  instrument, 
she  said,  "  You  are  fit  to  live  or  die.  We  want  such  men 
on  earth,  so  I  will  let  you  live  a  little  longer,"  and  immedi- 
ately left  the  apartment.  The  other  incident  is  rather  amu- 
sing than  otherwise.  As  he  was  one  day  preaching,  this 
lady  sitting  not  far  from  him,  he  had  occasion  to  use  a  pas- 
sage from  the  parable  of  Lazarus,  and  misquoted  it.  "  In 
hell,"  said  the  preacher,  "  he  lifted  up  his  hell,  being  in — " 
"  Say  eyes,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  C.  Turning  immediately  to- 
wards her,  "  Thank  you,  madam,"  he  added,  with  a  slight 
inclination  of  the  head  ;  "  In  hell  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  being 
in  torment,"  and  went  on  without  the  slightest  perceptible 
discomposure. 

Craftsbury  Circuit,  like  most  others  in  that  new  region, 
was  very  laborious.  The  country  is  rugged  and  mountain- 
ous :  many  of  the  people  poor  ;  and  he  often  lodged  where 
he  could  count  the  stars  through  the  crevices  of  the  roof. 
But  he  was  no  Sybarite.  He  never  turned  aside  for  diffi- 
culties, unless  they  were  absolutely  insurmountable.  In 
some  cases  he  was  even  imprudent  in  his  efforts  to  meet  his 
appointments.  In  the  winter  of  1818,  '19  (for  he  had  been 
admitted  on  trial  into  Conference,  and  reappointed  to  Crafts- 
bury  Circuit),  he  set  out  one  morning,  after  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow,  to  ride  about  fourteen  miles.  The  weather  was  ex- 
tremely cold,  the  roads  blocked  up  with  snow,  which  had 
drifted  very  much,  and  but  one  or  two  families  resided  with- 
in the  distance.  He  had  a  friend  with  him.  On  the  road 
their  horse  became  completely  exhausted,  while  himself  and 
his  companion  were  chilled  with  the  cold.  In  this  condition 
they  were  obliged  to  alight,  tread  down  a  path  for  the  horse, 
and  lead  him  forward ;  then  beat  down  a  path  again,  and 
again  lead  the  horse,  and  so  on  for  several  hundred  yards, 
till,  weary  and  faint,  they  despaired  of  getting  through. 
6 


62 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


They  then  proposed  to  retire  to  an  old  barn  not  far  distant, 
for  there  was  no  house  near,  wrap  themselves  in  their  buffalo 
skins,  and  await  their  destiny.  This,  however,  was  certain 
death  :  it  was  equally  so  to  remain.  Summoning,  therefore, 
all  their  strength,  they  made  another  desperate  effort,  and 
finally  succeeded  in  making  their  escape.  But  the  conse- 
quence was  that  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  for  several 
weeks.  Prodigality  of  life,  where  any  good  was  to  be  ac- 
complished, ever  characterized  our  subject  ;  but  he  carried 
it,  in  this  instance,  farther  than  prudence  or  duty  required. 

We  have  spoken  of  his  amiable  and  obliging  disposition. 
We  give  a  simple  illustration  of  it.  One  day,  I  think  the 
same  winter,  riding  with  his  sister  Mary  in  a  sleigh  through 
the  unbroken  snow,  suddenly  a  voice  reached  their  ears, 
crying  "Stop  a  minute!"  And  at  the  same  instant  was 
seen  a  poor  woman  wading  through  the  snow,  and  tossing  a 
bundle  of  yarn  into  the  sleigh,  begged  them  to  leave  it  at  a 
house  some  distance  on  the  road,  as  the  snow  prevented  her 
getting  thither.  They  were  much  amused  at  the  poor  wom- 
an's simplicity  and  assurance  ;  but  Mr.  Fisk  observed,  with 
one  of  his  pleasant  smiles,  "  Well,  Mary,  if  we  can  help  this 
poor  woman  a  little,  I  believe  it  is  all  the  good  we  can  do 
this  snowy  day."  In  the  same  spirit  he  would  often  accom- 
modate persons  with  a  seat  in  his  chaise  or  sleigh,  gain  a 
good  deal  of  information  from  them  as  to  the  state  of  re- 
ligion, society,  &c,  where  they  lived,  always  taking  care 
to  drop  some  useful  reflections,  instruction,  or  reproof. 
"Thus,"  he  would  remark,  "though  the  seed  is  'sown  by 
the  way  side,'  some  kernels  might  escape  the  devouring 
birds,  ;  spring  up,  and  bear  fruit.'  " 

We  now  suspend  our  narrative  for  a  short  time  to  insert 
a  few  passages  from  letters  written  by  Mr.  Fisk  about  this 
time  to  Miss  Peck.  The  first  shows  how  completely  his 
earthly  affections  were  subjected  to  his  conscience  : 

"  March  26,  1818. 

"  I  know  not  what  to  think  of  your  qualified  consent.  I 
have  received  license  in  the  Methodist  connexion  to  officiate 
as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.    In  such  circumstances,  it  is  a 


LETTERS. 


63 


duty  I  owe  the  connexion  to  wish  to  have  my  companion 
worship  at  the  same  altar  with  me.  *  *  *  As  a  private  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  I  think  /  could  conform  in  many  respects 
to  the  customs  and  forms  of  any  Church,  and  in  a  manner, 
too,  altogether  improper  in  a  minister.  This  you  will  admit; 
but  far  be  it  from  me  to  urge  you  into  a  conformity  to  my 
modes  and  doctrines.  And  I  agree  with  you  in  thinking 
that  we  ought  not  to  let  our  feelings  rise  superior  to  our 
judgment." 

In  another  letter  he  writes,  "  And  what  shall  I  do  ?  Has 
not  God  answered  my  prayers  ?  Has  he  not  blessed  my  la- 
bours ?  Then  I  mustcontinue  among  the  Methodists,  whatev- 
er it  costs  me.  My  college  friends  reproach  and  ridicule  me ; 
the  world  persecutes,  and — but  hold,  the  Lord  is  good,  and 
I  must  obey  Him.  I  have  seen  the  haughty  bowing,  the 
profane  confessing,  and  the  gay  and  airy  forsaking  their  fol- 
lies and  pursuing  the  paths  of  piety.  I  am,  then,  in  the  way 
of  my  duty ;  and  if  I  cannot  find  a  companion  that  will  unite 
in  the  work  heart  and  hand,  why  should  I  wish  to  take  her 
from  her  friends  and  her  home  ?  If  she  is  not  hearty  in  the 
work,  she  cannot  receive  that  blessing  in  it  that  I  feel." 

To  the  Same. 

"My  Dear  R., 

"  After  waiting  with  no  small  anxiety  for  several  weeks, 
I  have  at  length  been  gratified  with  an  answer  to  my  last. 
I  feared  you  were  sick,  and  my  forebodings  have  proved  too 
true.  Surely  you  have  been  educated  in  the  school  of  af- 
fliction. O  my  dear  girl,  how  do  you  support  yourself  under 
your  numerous  sorrows  1  Support  yourself !  That  is  im- 
possible. '  The  Lord  supports  the  sinking  mind.'  And 
how  rejoiced  am  I,  that,  in  all  your  afflictions,  you  have  a 
Saviour  to  go  to  for  support  and  strength.  O  !  may  you 
always  find  him  a  present  help  in  time  of  need  ;  so  that  you 
may  say  with  the  apostle,  '  As  sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoi- 
cing !'  I  certainly  sympathize  with  you  ;  and  if  I  were 
with  you,  how  gladly  would  I  bear  a  part  in  all  your  griefs. 
But  this  pleasure  is  denied  me,  and  it  is  only  through  the 


64 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


cold  and  tedious  medium  of  epistolary  correspondence  that 
I  can  communicate  to  you  my  feelings,  or  attempt  to  sooth 
your  troubled  mind.    But  I  go  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and 
try  to  pour  out  my  soul  to  the  Father  of  mercies  in  your  be- 
half.   O  !  my  tender-hearted  and  merciful  Saviour,  Thou 
who,  in  the  days  of  thy  flesh,  took  delight  in  comforting 
mourners  and  raising  up  the  afflicted ;  Thou  who  wast  a  man 
of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief;  Thou  who  didst  weep 
with  the  mourners  at  Lazarus's  tomb,  hear,  I  beseech  thee, 
the  prayers  of  thy  unworthy  servant  in  behalf  of  his  absent, 
afflicted  friend  :  one  whom  Thou  hast  seen  fit,  in  Thy  wis- 
dom, to  pierce  through  with  many  sorrows  ;  one  whom  Thou 
hast  made  to  drink  deep  of  affliction's  cup.    Sanctify  unto 
her  the  chastenings  she  has  already  felt,  and  pity  her  pres- 
ent distress.    If  her  only  brother  is  yet  a  subject  of  prayer, 
raise  him,  in  mercy,  from  his  bed  of  sickness,  to  be  a  com- 
fort to  his  sister,  and  a  support  to  his  aged  mother.  But, 
whatever  thou  hast  determined,  support  them  under  all  their 
losses  ;  and  may  they  be  more  than  made  up  to  them  in  the 
better  enjoyment  of  thyself.    Wilt  Thou,  who  art  the  wid- 
ow's God,  and  a  Father  to  the  fatherless,  grant  that  this 
widowed  mother,  whose  glass  of  life  runs  fastly  to  its  finish, 
and  this  fatherless  child,  may  in  faith  anticipate  that  happy 
day  when  the  mother  and  the  child,  the  sister  and  the  broth- 
er, shall  meet  on  those  shores  of  delight  where  they  shall 
unite  in  one  continued  scene  of  'joy  and  gladness  :  sorrow 
and  sighing  shall  flee  away.'    O  !  my  friend,  shall  we  ever 
meet  there  ?    Lord,  grant  that  we  may.    Let  this  comfort 
you.    Do  not,  I  entreat  you,  suffer  your  afflictions  to  cast  a 
gloom  of  heart-sickening  melancholy  over  your  mind.  Some- 
times I  think,  if  I  should  see  you  now,  your  appearance  would 
be  greatly  altered ;  I  should  see  that  countenance,  once  beam- 
ing with  smiles,  pale,  cheerless,  and  sad.    But  I  mistake  ; 
the  Christian  is  not  so.    He  who  has  no  hopes  but  in  this 
world's  enjoyments  may  well  be  sad  when  he  sees  those 
enjoyments  leaving  him.     But  religion,  the  heart-cheering 
religion  of  Jesus,  lights  up  a  smile  in  the  Christian's  counte- 
nance in  the  midst  of  affliction  ;  yes,  my  dear  R.  smiles 
through  her  tears,  and  thanks  her  God  for  her  hope  of 
Heaven." 


LETTER  TO  MISS  PECK. 


65 


To  the  Same. 

"April  29,  1818. 

"My  Dear  R., 

M  Your  letters  of  late  are  messengers  of  affliction.  The 
discontented  mind,  by  way  of  complaint,  is  often  inquiring, 
Why  are  my  afflictions  so  much  severer  than  others'?  But 
the  submissive  mind,  desirous  to  kiss  the  rod,  is  ever  inqui- 
ring  under  affliction,  Lord,  what  lesson  of  heavenly  wisdom 
ought  I  to  learn  from  this  ?  I  trust,  my  dear  R.,  that  you 
are  of  the  latter  class.  And  remember,  that  God  designs, 
by  the  afflictions  he  brings  upon  his  children,  not  only  to 
teach  them  lessons  of  submission  and  obedience,  but  also  to 
illustrate  and  vindicate  His  providence  and  government  to 
others.  When  we  see  the  humble,  pious  follower  of  Christ 
borne  down  by  a  weight  of  affliction  from  the  cradle  to  the 
grave,  while  every  stroke  drives  him  nearer  to  his  God  ; 
and  when,  on  the  other  hand,  we  see  the  proud  and  impious 
blasphemer  enjoy  a  long  life  of  almost  uninterrupted  pros* 
perity,  1  nourishing  like  the  green  bay-tree,'  what  conclusion 
are  we  to  draw  from  all  this  ?  Why,  that  the  sanctions  of 
God's  law,  to  wit,  the  rewards  and  penalties  thereunto  an- 
nexed, are  to  be  executed  in  another  world.  From  which 
we  draw  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  incontrovertible  ar- 
guments (aside  from  the  Scriptures)  in  proof  of  the  doctrine 
of  future  rewards  and  punishments.  Rejoice,  then,  and  be 
exceeding  glad  that  your  Lord  and  Master,  whose  cause 
you  wish  to  promote,  has  seen  fit  to  make  you  the  passive 
instrument  to  illustrate  His  government  and  '  vindicate  the 
ways  of  God  to  man  ;'  at  the  same  time  remembering  that, 
wherein  you  are  able  in  this  way  to  be  of  service  to  the 
world,  your  crown  will  shine  the  brighter  in  the  world  to 
come.  Let  me  ask,  my  dear  friend,  are  you  making  advan- 
ces in  the  Divine  life?  I  can  assure  you  I  have  of  late  felt 
more  and  more  the  necessity  of  {  growing  in  grace,'  of  hav- 
ing a  deeper  work  effected  in  the  heart.  Let  us  not  be  so 
fearful  of  the  expressions,  '  perfect  conformity  to  God's  will,' 
4  perfect  love,'  &c,  as  not  to  seek  the  thing  which  these 
terms  represent.  I  trust  you  are  of  that  number  that  are 
6*  I 


66 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


'  looking  forward  and  pressing  forward.'  I  have  seen  so 
many  profess  religion,  attach  themselves  to  some  church, 
and  then  settle  down  in  an  outward  form  of  religion,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  into  an  inward  and  outward  conformity  to 
the  world,  that  it  causes  me  to  mourn  for  those  who  ■  have 
a  name  to  live  while  they  are  dead.'  I  have  in  this  respect 
suffered  so  much  myself,  and  see  my  own  danger  so  much 
still,  that  it  is  the  constant  desire  of  my  heart,  Lord,  give  me 
more  religion.  And  this  I  am  induced  to  do,  not  only  that 
I  may  love  and  serve  God  better,  but  also  that  I  may  be 
more  serviceable  to  others.  And  I  think  the  Lord  has,  in 
some  measure,  heard  my  prayers." 

At  the  Lynn  Conference  of  1819,  Mr.  Fisk  was  appointed 
to  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  This  was  a  very  trying  ap- 
pointment to  him.  The  society  was  small,  in  every  way 
feeble,  and  embarrassed  with  debt.  But  he  went  to  his 
station,  trusting  only  in  Him  who  said,  "  Lo !  I  am  with  you 
always." 

We  insert  the  skeleton  of  his  first  sermon  in  Charlestown, 
both  as  an  evidence  of  the  spirit  in  which  he  commenced  his 
labours  there,  and  as  a  specimen  of  his  mode  of  sermonizing  : 

"  'Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  God!  behold,  I  cannot  speak  :  for  I  am  a  child.' — 

Jeremiah,  i.,  6. 

"  In  the  case  of  Jeremiah,  we  see  that  of  the  Gospel 
preacher  at  the  present  day.  In  examining  the  text  with 
the  context,  we  shall  notice, 

"  I.  The  call.  L  The  Lord  sanctified  him  from  the 
womb  (v.  5).  2.  He  ordained  him  (v.  5).  3.  He  touched 
his  mouth,  that  is,  qualified  him,  and  gave  him  his  commis- 
sion (v.  9). 

"  II.  The  message.  He  was  set  over  nations  and  over 
kingdoms  :  1.  To  root  out  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy 
and  to  throw  down.    2.  To  build  and  to  plant  (v.  10). 

"  So  the  minister  of  the  Word  must  pull  down  the  strong- 
hold of  Satan's  kingdom  (2  Corinthians,  x.,  4,  &c),  and  build 
up  the  Church  of  God,  &c.  (Matthew,  xvi.,  19,  and  xviii.,  18). 

"  III.  The  excuse.    I  am  not  qualified  for  this  important 


SKETCH  OF  SERMON. 


67 


duty  ;  1 1  am  a  child.'  Young  in  years,  young  in  experience, 
young  in  knowledge,  whom  shall  I  meet  with  ?  The  old  :  old 
in  years,  old  in  sin,  old  in  the  wisdom  of  the  world.  I  shall 
meet  with  the  rich,  with  the  noble  ;  with  the  scorner,  with 
the  persecutor.  1  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  V  Not 
I.  I  am  weak — I  am  a  child.  Ah,  Lord  God  !  I  cannot 
speak. 

"  IV.  The  encouragement.  1.  I  send  thee  (v.  7).  2.  I 
have  put  words  in  thy  mouth  (v.  7)  :  see  also  Matthew,  x., 
16,  19,  20.  3.  I  am  with  thee,  to  deliver  thee  (v.  19)  :  see 
Matthew,  xxviii.,  20.  4.  I  have  made  thee  a  defenced  city, 
and  an  iron  pillar  and  brazen  walls  against  the  whole  land 
(v.  18).  '  The  servant  of  God  is  immortal  till  his  work  is 
done.' 

"  REFLECTIONS. 

u  I.  If  God  sends,  how  important  the  mission  ! 

"II.  A  faithful  preacher  must  expect  reproaches. 

"  III.  But  he  has  many  encouragements  ;  and  if  these  will 
not  make  him  bold,  and  plain,  and  faithful  in  his  preaching, 
let  him  at  least  remember  this :  '  Be  not  dismayed  at  their 
faces,  lest  I  confound  thee  before  them'  (v.  17). 

"  APPLICATION. 

"  My  brethren,  these  considerations  induce  me  to  present 
myself  before  you  as  a  plain  man  in  my  doctrines,  and  bold 
in  my  Master's  cause.  I  received  my  appointment  among 
you  with  trembling.  I  was  ready  to  say,  1  I  cannot  speak  ; 
I  am  a  child.'  But  God,  in  his  providence,  said  Go.  I  have 
come  ;  and  though  I  am  but  a  child,  I  have  come  in  that 
'  name  that  is  above  every  name.'  Therefore,  in  my  doc- 
trine and  exhortation  I  shall  not  spare.  Ye  aged,  look  not 
upon  my  youth,  nor  disregard  the  message  because  it  is  de- 
livered by  a  child,  for  it  has  the  sanction  of  the  Ancient  of 
days.  Ye  middle-aged,  let  not  your  pride  of  worldly  wisdom 
despise  the  simplicity  of  my  message  ;  for,  though  I  address 
you  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  yet  I  trust  it 
shall  be  '  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power.'  Ye 
youth,  scoff  not ;  for  this  shall  prove  a  savour  of  life  or  of 


68  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

death.  May  it  prove  a  savour  of  life  to  all,  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen." 

The  following  paper,  dated  June  30th,  1819,  will  show  the 
secret  of  his  strength  and  success  : 

"  Resolutions  entered  into  for  the  better  Improvement  of  my 

Time. 

"  1.  I  am  resolved,  so  far  as  I  can  effect  it,  to  retire  at  nine 
and  rise  at  five. 

"2.  I  will  appropriate  one  hour  to  my  morning  devotions. 

"  3.  I  will  allow  one  hour  for  breakfast,  family  devotion, 
and  such  incidental  circumstances  as  may  demand  my  at- 
tention. 

"  4.  I  will  write  each  day  two  hours. 
"  5.  I  will  spend  two  hours  in  some  regular  scientific  or 
literary  study,  which  I  shall  adopt  from  time  to  time. 
"  6.  I  will  spend  one  hour  in  miscellaneous  reading. 
"  7.  One  hour  for  my  devotions  at  noon. 
"  8.  One  hour  for  dinner. 

u  9.  One  hour  (each  day)  in  preparing  my  discourses  for 
the  Sabbath. 

"  10.  The  remainder  of  the  day  will  be  generally  devoted 
to  visiting. 

"  11.  Whenever  I  am  constrained,  from  any  cause,  to 
break  in  upon  my  regular  course,  I  will  endeavour,  as  much 
as  possible,  to  prevent  any  loss  of  time  by  returning  to  it  as 
soon  as  may  be,  and  then  will  attend  to  those  branches  that 
my  judgment  dictates  will  be  the  most  improper  to  neglect; 
at  all  times  remembering  not  to  curtail  my  devotions  and  my 
preparation  for  the  Sabbath. 

"  12.  When,  in  the  course  of  my  various  employments,  a 
passage  of  Scripture  opens  to  my  mind,  or  a  striking  thought 
occurs  to  me,  I  will  take  the  first  opportunity  to  commit  it  to 
writing. 

"  13.  In  my  devotions  it  shall  be  my  particular  business 
to  pray  for  a  deepening  of  the  work  of  grace  in  my  heart, 
and  for  a  revival  of  the  work  of  (God)  in  the  town  where  I 
labour.    My  usefulness  can  be  secured  only  by  the  blessing 


CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION. 


69 


of  God.  Therefore,  I  must  particularly  pray  for  the  Divine 
assistance  in  all  my  labours. 

"  14.  I  must  not  dine  out  on  the  Sabbath." 

He  adopted  also  a  practice  of  noting  down  subjects  that 
occurred  to  his  mind,  for  the  purpose  either  of  meditation, 
or  for  discussion  with  his  friends  in  private  or  in  the  social 
circle.  Thus  I  find,  for  instance,  the  following  questions 
as  "  subjects  for  consideration  and  inquiry  : 

M  How  far  can  any  religion  compare,  taking  into  the  ac- 
count both  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  propagated 
and  the  success  with  which  it  was  crowned,  with  the  Chris- 
tian religion  ? 

"  How  far  may  those  bodily  exercises,  with  which  many 
religiously  affected  are  influenced  by,  proceed  from  the  im- 
mediate operation  of  a  good  spirit,  and  how  far  from  that  of 
a  bad  spirit  ?  and  how  we  may  be  able  to  distinguish  them." 

Christian  perfection  is  a  tenet  for  which,  more  than  any 
other,  the  Methodist  Church  has  endured  the  shafts  of  oppo- 
sition and  ridicule.  Yet  never,  perhaps,  have  good  and  sen- 
sible men,  so  much  as  in  this  case,  thought  themselves  at 
liberty  to  fight  in  the  dark,  and  pronounce  without  any  ade- 
quate investigation.  The  truth  is,  this  doctrine  contains  no 
more  than  what  the  most  devout  Christians  of  every  age 
have  believed  and  enjoyed.  It  is  found  in  substance  in 
the  ancient  fathers,  and  in  the  reformers.  It  is  clearly  ex- 
hibited in  the  most  spiritual  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
from  Thomas  a  Kempis  to  Fenelon  and  the  Marquis  de 
Renty,  and  shone  brilliantly  in  the  chief  luminaries  of  the 
Anglican  churches,  such  as  Hooker,  Herbert,  Leighton, 
Bunyan,  Scougal,  Doddridge  ;  and  in  our  country  I  add 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards,  Brainard,  and  Payson.  Methodists 
never  contended  for  higher  perfection  than  we  find  in  these. 
The  chief  difference  between  us  and  others,  therefore,  is  the 
use  of  terms.  "  But  why,  then,  employ  terms  that  are  liable 
to  be  misunderstood  ?"  To  this  we  simply  reply  that  we  use 
only  the  language  of  our  common  Text-book  ;  and  we  think 
that  great  mischief  has  been  done  by  "  speaking  in  the 
words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth"  instead  of  those 


70 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth."  If,  therefore,  we  use 
Scriptural  terms  in  the  Scriptural  sense,  it  is  plain  to  see  that 
the  controversy  does  not  lie  against  us. 

This  is  not  the  place  for  a  theological  discussion.  Never- 
theless, these  preparatory  remarks  appeared  necessary  to 
place  our  subject's  subsequent  history  in  a  proper  light.  For 
this  reason,  we  trust  the  reader  will  excuse  us  if  we  intro- 
duce for  the  same  purpose  a  few  remarks  from  a  pen  of 
whose  productions  we  have  already  availed  ourselves.  It  is 
the  language  of  one  who  was  not  committed  to  any  theory, 
and  who  speaks  rather  as  a  philosopher  than  as  a  divine. 
Mr.  Knox,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  Mr.  Jebb,  afterward  Bishop 
of  Limerick,  blames  him  for  preaching  in  a  way  that  would 
be  construed  into  an  attack  upon  the  Methodists.  Thus  he 
proceeds  :  "  Nay,  the  very  point  you  aim  at  in  them,  I  mean 
their  view  of  Christian  perfection,  is,  in  my  mind,  so  essen- 
tially right  and  important,  that  it  is  on  this  account  particu- 
larly I  value  them  above  other  denominations  of  that  sort. 
I  am  aware  that  ignorant  individuals  expose  what  is  in  itself 
true  by  their  unfounded  pretensions  and  irrational  descrip- 
tions ;  but,  with  the  sincerest  disapproval  of  every  such  ex- 
cess, I  do  esteem  John  Wesley's  stand  for  holiness  to  be 
that  which  does  immortal  honour  to  his  name.  #  *  #  #  In 
John  Wesley's  views  of  Christian  perfection  are  combined, 
in  substance,  all  the  sublime  morality  of  the  Greek  fathers, 
the  spirituality  of  the  mystics,  and  the  Divine  philosophy  of 
our  favourite  Platonists.  Macarius,  Fenelon,  Lucas,  and  all 
of  their  respective  classes,  have  been  consulted  and  digested 
by  him  ;  and  his  ideas  are  essentially  theirs."* 

*  "  Thirty  Years'  Correspondence,"  Letter  xix. — That  the  reader  may  see  that 
Mr.  Knox  had  good  reason  for  making  his  closing  assertion,  I  subjoin  the  follow- 
ing citations  from  two  of  the  authors  he  has  named.  The  first  two  are  from  the 
Homilies  of  Macarius,  a  Christian  writer  of  the  fourth  century,  born  at  Thebais, 
in  Egypt,  and  died  at  Scetis,  aged  ninety  years  : 

"  But  the  unsteady  and  unskilful,  whenever  grace  operates,  imagine  presently 
they  have  no  more  sin ;  whereas  they  that  have  discretion  cannot  deny  that 
even  we,  who  have  the  grace  of  God,  may  be  molested  again  with  evd  thoughts. 
For  we  have  often  had  instances  of  some  among  the  brethren  that  have  experienced 
such  a  degree  of  joy  and  grace  as  to  affirm,  that  for  five  or  six  years  running  they 
had  no  sin  in  them ;  and  yet,  after  all,  when  they  thought  themselves  freed  en- 
tirely from  it,  the  corruption  that  lurked  within  was  stirred  up  anew,  and  they 
were  wellnigh  burned  up." — Homily  ix. 


CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION.  71 

Mr.  Wesley,  therefore,  was  neither  an  inventor  nor  dis- 
coverer in  theology.  His  merit  consisted  chiefly  in  four 
things  :  First.  He  popularized  these  sublime  subjects,  and 
brought  them  within  reach  of  ordinary  minds,  and  showed 
that  to  be  attainable  by  all  which  had  been  regarded  as  the 
privilege  of  a  favoured  few.  Secondly.  He  adopted  a  more 
Scriptural  phraseology,  and  one  less  liable  to  be  perverted 
to  sinful  indulgences.  Thirdly.  He  pointed  out  more  clearly 
the  mode  of  its  attainment.  Fourthly.  He  brought  that  to 
an  immediate  issue  which  had  been  previously  spread  out 
over  a  long  space,  perhaps  a  lifetime.  This  is  of  no  small 
importance.  Setting  a  definite  object  before  the  mind  for 
present  attainment  wonderfully  quickens  the  faculties,  and 
stimulates  one  to  much  more  vigorous  efforts  than  when  the 
object  is  distant,  vague,  and  uncertain.  It  was  owing  to 
these  things,  in  no  small  degree,  that  a  great  elevation  was 

Again  :  "As  a  stone  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea  is  every  way  surrounded  with 
water,  so  are  these  (mature  Christians)  every  way  drenched  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  made  like  to  Christ  himself,  possessing  unalterably  within  themselves  the 
virtues  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  being  blameless  within  and  without,  and  spot- 
less and  pure  ;  for,  being  brought  to  perfection  by  the  Spirit,  how  is  it  possible 
they  should  outwardly  produce  the  fruits  of  sin  1  But  at  all  times  and  in  every 
instance  do  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  shine  brightly  out  in  their  whole  deportment." 
— Homily  x. 

Thus  far  Macarius.  Let  us  now  hear  Dr.  Lucas.  After  having  explained  the 
nature  of  Christian  perfection,  he  proceeds  to  answer  objections  : 

"  It  may  be  objected  against  the  account  I  have  given  of  the  growth  of  virtue, 
that,  when  I  come  to  the  maturity  of  it,  my  colours  are  too  bright,  my  strokes 
too  bold,  and  the  form  I  have  given  it  too  Divine.  *  *  *  To  this  I  have  several 
things  to  say.  First.  I  have  described  the  Christian's  spiritual  progress  in  the 
same  manner,  and  as  near  as  I  could,  in  the  same  words  which  the  Scripture 
does.  Secondly.  I  do  not  pretend  anywhere  to  assert  that  there  is  any  state  in 
this  life  raised  above  trials  and  temptations.  Thirdly.  As  the  world  now  goes, 
perfection  is  a  state  we  arrive  at  very  late,*  and  all  the  way  to  it  full  of  labour 
and  travail,  full  of  dangers  and  difficulties  ;  so  that,  upon  this  account,  the  life 
of  man  may  well  be  said  to  be  a  perpetual  warfare.  But,  fourthly,  I  do  by  no 
means  affirm  that  the  perfect  man  is  incapable  of  improvement.  Of  this  I  shall 
have  occasion  to  unfold  my  sense  more  fully  afterward."  I  have  cited  this  pas- 
sage, that  the  reader  may  perceive  that  in  the  objections  and  the  answers  to 
them  there  was  a  strong  resemblance,  though  not  a  perfect  identity,  between 
Mr.  Wesley's  views  and  those  of  the  pious  and  sightless  prebendary  of  Westmin- 
ster. But  they  differed  in  regard  to  the  mode  of  attainment,  as  they  did  also  in 
regard  to  that  of  conversion. 

•  ••  True,"  tayi  Mr.  Wesley,  in  the  "  Christian  Library,"  "  but  it  is  our  own  fault." 


72 


LIFE  OP  WILLBUR  FISK. 


given  to  the  piety  of  the  Wesleyan  Societies.  But  to  pro- 
ceed. 

On  the  10th  of  August  Mr.  Fisk  attended  a  camp-meet- 
ing at  Wellfleet,  on  Cape  Cod.  This  meeting  was  signal- 
ized by  remarkable  displays  of  Divine  power  in  the  awaken- 
ing of  sinners  and  sanctification  of  believers.  The  subject 
of  our  narrative  had  many  exercises  of  mind  on  the  subject 
of  Christian  perfection,  but  was  not,  when  he  went  to  the 
meeting,  under  any  special  concern  about  it.  But  while 
there  his  attention  was  strongly  interested  in  it,  especially 
under  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Timothy  Merritt,  on  the  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  became  deeply  sensible  of  his  want 
of  full  conformity  to  the  Christian  standard  ;  he  sought 
earnestly  unto  God  through  the  blood  of  the  atoning  sacri- 
fice ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  meeting  he  obtained  that 
"  perfect  love"  that  "  casteth  out  fear."  His  religious  emo- 
tions now  acquired  a  wonderful  intensity  and  elevation. 
One  who  was  present  at  the  time  says,  "  His  language  and 
whole  appearance  had  something  in  it  more  than  human, 
most  manifestly  indicating  that  his  soul  then  glowed  with 
ardours  of  love  nearly  allied  to  those  of  angels.  The  next 
morning  he  preached  on  growth  in  grace,  when  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  the  audience  was  deep,  awful,  glorious. 
His  beautiful  classic  style,  vivified  with  fire  from  Heaven's 
own  altar,  never  appeared  to  better  advantage.  He  poured 
forth  a  full  soul  in  '  thoughts  that  breathe  and  words  that 
burn.'  "* 

*  There  is  some  resemblance  between  the  case  of  Mr.  Fisk  and  that  of  the 
excellent  Mr.  Herbert,  as  related  in  his  Life  by  Izaak  Walton  :  On  taking  orders, 
it  is  said,  "The  apprehensions  of  the  last  great  account  that  he  was  to  make  for 
the  cure  of  souls  made  him  fast  and  pray  often,  and  consider  for  not  less  than  a 
month.  *  *  *  And  in  this  time  of  consideration  he  endured  such  spiritual  con- 
flicts as  none  can  think  but  only  those  that  have  endured  them." — "And  at  length, 
when,  at  his  induction,  he  was  shut  into  Bemerton  Church,  being  left  there  alone 
to  toll  the  bell  (as  the  law  directs),  he  stayed  so  much  longer  than  an  ordinary 
time  before  he  returned  to  those  friends  that  stayed,  expecting  him  at  the  church 
door,  that  his  friend,  Mr.  Woodnot,  looked  into  the  church  window,  and  saw  him 
prostrate  on  the  ground  before  the  altar ;  at  which  time  and  place  (as  he  told 
Mr.  Woodnot)  he  set  some  rules  to  himself  for  the  future  manage  of  his  life, 
and  then  and  there  made  a  vow  to  labour  to  keep  them."  From  this  time  he 
exhibited  such  uncommon  sanctity  that  he  has  ever  been  distinguished  as  the 
"  pious"  or  the  "  divine"  Herbert. 


EFFECTS  OF  THE  DIVINE  BLESSING. 


73 


Some  effects  of  his  late  exercises  of  mind  are  not  unwor- 
thy of  notice.  His  views  of  the  Divine  Being,  and  especially 
of  the  power,  glory,  and  fulness  of  Christ,  were  almost  over- 
whelming. He  felt  such  a  horror  of  sin,  and  had  so  great 
an  apprehension  of  the  purity  of  the  Divine  law,  that  he 
"  almost,"  to  use  his  own  strong  language,  "  feared  to  set 
his  foot  on  the  ground  lest  he  should  do  wrong."  Familiar- 
ity with  these  views  would  necessarily  abate  somewhat  the 
intensity  of  his  feelings.  But  other  effects  became  perma- 
nent. Previously  to  this  he  had  often  doubted,  not  only  his 
interest  in  Christ,  but  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion ;  af- 
terward, never.  From  this  time  he  has  been  heard  to  say 
that  he  never  laid  his  head  upon  his  pillow  without  feeling 
that,  if  he  never  waked  in  this  world,  all  would  be  well. 
Prior  to  this  he  was  often  subject  to  desponding,  gloomy 
seasons ;  we  heard  him  say  long  afterward  that  he  knew  no 
gloomy  hours  ;  his  mind  was  always  serene  and  happy. 
This  may  have  been  owing,  in  part,  to  that  admirable  bal- 
ance of  mind  which  characterized  him,  and  on  which  our 
mental  enjoyment  so  greatly  depends  ;  but  it  was  matured 
and  confirmed  by  that  equal  balance  of  the  moral  faculties 
which  the  efficient  spirit  of  Christianity  produced. 

Writing  to  his  sister  some  time  after,  he  says,  "  I  have 
found,  my  dear  sister,  much  consolation  of  late  in  that  reli- 
gion which  I  profess.  God  has  been  pleased  to  brighten 
my  evidence  of  acceptance  with  him.  I  have  been  enabled 
to  say,  ' 1  have  not  a  doubt;  I  feel  it  so.'  I  have  dedicated 
myself  anew  to  the  Lord  and  to  his  ministry.  Though  I 
love  you,  my  sister,  and  my  dear  parents,  if  possible,  better 
than  ever,  yet  I  have  felt  such  a  complete  devotedness  to 
the  work  in  which  I  am  engaged,  that  those  ties  which  have 
hitherto  given  me  pain  are  loosed.  Most  willingly  do  I  de- 
vote all  to  God,  and  rejoice  in  the  service  of  such  a  Master. 
I  look  back  upon  my  past  life,  upon  my  follies  and  my  wan- 
derings, and  wonder  at  the  mercy  that  has  spared  me,  and 
at  that  Providence  that  has  protected  me.  O  that  I  could 
love  this  Saviour  more  and  serve  him  better !" 

To  the  Rev.  Phinehas  Peck  he  says,  in  a  letter  about  the 
same  date,  "  O !  my  brother,  I  could  write  pages  on  this 
7  K 


74 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


subject ;  but  I  must  forbear.  I  thank  God  that  I  ever  saw 
this  day.  I  love  our  Church  better  than  ever.  How  glad 
am  I  that  I  never  left  it,  and  how  thankful  that  they  never 
cast  me  off  when  backslidden  from  the  cause  !  How  grate- 
ful am  I  to  you  for  all  your  fatherly  concern  and  care  for  my 
soul.  I  pray  God  to  reward  you  in  heaven.  I  want  to  see 
you  more  than  ever,  and  all  my  Christian  friends  in  Vermont. 
O,  encourage  them  to  go  on.  Let  holiness  of  heart  be  the 
motto.  My  dear  brother,  will  you  preach  it — in  the  desk, 
in  the  class,  and  from  house  to  house  ?" 

Mr.  Fisk's  labours  at  Charlestown  were  very  successful. 
His  congregations  were  quite  large  and  respectable  ;  but 
this,  with  his  usual  modesty,  he  ascribed  to  the  unhappy 
state  of  the  other  churches,  which  were  at  variance  with 
their  ministers,  and  whose  members  therefore  came  in 
crowds  to  hear  him.  But,  instead  of  congratulating  him- 
self upon  this,  he  writes  to  his  father,  "  If  these  difficulties 
should  be  satisfactorily  settled,  our  congregations  will  prob- 
ably be  considerably  diminished.  However,  we  do  not 
wish  to  build  ourselves  up  on  the  ruins  of  others.  We  wish, 
for  the  good  of  the  cause  in  general,  that  these  disturban- 
ces may  cease."  Let  such  ever  be  the  spirit  of  a  Christian 
minister.  There  is  work  enough  for  all ;  and  if  all  work 
together  in  harmony,  there  will  still  be  far  too  much  left 
undone. 

But  his  labours  were  not  confined  to  Charlestown.  This 
was  a  year  of  eminent  prosperity  to  our  Zion,  and  in  many 
of  the  adjacent  towns  a  delightful  state  of  religious  inter- 
est existed.  Mr.  Fisk  was  always  ready  to  aid  in  this  work 
as  he  had  opportunity,  and  everywhere  his  labours  were 
gladly  received. 

An  incident  which  occurred  about  this  time  in  one  of  his 
visits  to  Lynn,  illustrates  the  effect  of  his  preaching,  as  well 
as  his  self-possession  and  presence  of  mind.  He  was  preach- 
ing on  the  words,  "  He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me,15 
&c.  A  person  was  present  who  had  made  an  engagement 
to  go  on  a  pleasure  excursion  to  Nahant,  but,  on  hearing 
who  was  to  preach,  deferred  it  until  afternoon.  When  the 
text  was  announced,  he  comforted  himself  with  the  thought 


REMARKABLE  CONVERSION. 


75 


that  the  sermon  would  be  to  professors,  and  that  none  of  it 
would  apply  to  him.  But  he  soon  found,  from  the  view  the 
preacher  was  taking  of  his  subject,  that  he  was  mistaken. 
At  length  the  preacher  said,  "  There  are  no  neuters  in  this 
war :  1  he  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me,  and  he  that 
gathereth  not  with  me  scattereth  abroad.'  "  When  these 
words  were  pronounced,  they  were  like  an  electric  stroke. 
He  thought  (and  thought  aloud,  for,  unconsciously,  he  spoke 
the  words),  "  Good  God  !  is  this  my  case  ?  Am  I  an  ene- 
my to  thee  and  opposed  to  thy  cause  ?"  He  trembled,  sigh- 
ed, and  would  have  fallen  from  his  seat  had  he  not  been 
supported.  The  attention  of  the  congregation  was  arrest- 
ed, and  many  thought  he  was  taken  in  a  fit.  The  minister 
paused,  perceived  his  situation,  left  the  pulpit  and  went  to 
the  pew,  conversed  and  prayed  with  him,  and  then  went 
into  the  pulpit  and  resumed  his  discourse  to  a  congregation 
who  were  as  silent  and  solemn  as  the  shadow  of  death. 
Mr.  A.  continued  a  few  days  in  distress,  but  was  brought  to 
experience  peace  in  believing  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 
An  astonishing  change  took  place  in  his  whole  deportment : 
he  gave  an  evidence  of  real  and  deep  piety.  He  lived  a 
holy  and  happy  life  for  one  year,  and  died  a  peaceful  and 
triumphant  death  ;  and  in  twelve  months  from  the  Sabbath 
of  his  conviction,  in  the  same  house,  was  his  funeral  sermon 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Enoch  Mudge,  from  Zech.,  iii.,  2 : 
"Is  not  this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire  ?" 

While  the  subject  of  our  narrative  was  growing  rapidly 
in  the  esteem  of  the  Church  and  the  public,  it  is  delightful 
to  notice  his  deep  humility.  In  his  familiar  letters  to  his 
nearest  friends  there  is  not  to  be  found  a  single  expression 
indicative  of  conscious  superiority,  nor  any  of  those  expres- 
sions by  which,  under  a  thin  veil  of  modesty,  many  contrive 
to  eulogize  themselves.  He  had  a  low  estimate  of  his  piety. 
"  I  do  feel  an  evidence,"  he  says,  "  that  Jesus  is  my  friend. 
I  know  it  is  nothing  in  me  ;  for  I  have  an  humbling  sense 
of  my  past  wanderings  and  my  present  unworthiness.  O, 
that  I  could  ever  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  adore  that 
Saviour  who  has  done  so  much  for  me  !  I  say  so  much;  for, 
though  I  discover  my  attainments  to  be  but  small  to  what 


76 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


they  might  have  been  if  I  had  not  buried  my  Lord's  talent, 
yet  they  are  large  compared  with  my  deserts.  "What  shall 
I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  to  me  ?  I  will  take 
the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

And  again :  "  My  preaching  seems  not  to  be  attended 
with  that  power  I  could  wish.  The  people  are  too  easy  un- 
der the  word.  I  have  a  wish  to  see  the  word  preached 
'  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword.'  O  that  God  would 
make  me  more  faithful  in  the  ministry  and  more  successful. 
I  know  not  that  I  could  exert  myself  more  than  I  do.  I 
endeavour  to  be  in  season  and  out  of  season."  #  #  #  "  But 
faith  is  too  weak  in  all  I  do.  Too  few  listen  to  the  sound 
of  the  Gospel.    O  my  God  !  what  shall  I  do  to  save  souls  ?" 

And  again,  in  the  little  sketch  of  himself  before  spoken 
of,  written  probably  about  this  time,  he  observes,  "  My 
greatest  affliction  on  this  subject  is,  that  the  people  where  I 
labour,  and  my  brethren  in  the  ministry,  from  a  knowledge 
of  my  having  had  the  advantage  of  a  public  education,  ex- 
pect more  of  me  than  they  find  in  me.  They  find  many 
others,  with  not  half  my  advantages,  go  before  me  in  the  ex- 
cellence and  usefulness  of  their  performances.  And  the 
greater  their  expectations,  the  greater  their  disappointment, 
and  the  lower  I  sink  in  their  estimation.  But  this  is  good 
for  my  naturally  ambitious  heart.  It  enables  me  to  take  an 
instructive  lesson  in  humility  of  him  who  has  said,  4  Learn 
of  me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly.'  Lord  help  me  to  1  be- 
come a  fool  that  I  may  be  made  wise.'  And  if  I  glory  in 
aught,  let  it  be  in  my  infirmities." 

The  following  letters  belong  to  this  period  of  our  subject's 
life. 

"Feb.  11th,  1819. 

"To  Miss  Peck. 

#  #  #  "  Unless,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  get  the  victory  over 
those  corruptions,  and  am  liberated  from  that  burden  of  sin 
of  which  you  complain,  I  never  expect  to  meet  my  God  in 
peace.  I  fear  we,  many  of  us,  rest  short  of  the  Christian's 
standard.  1  There  is,  therefore,  now,  no  condemnation  to 
those  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh, 
but  after  the  spirit.'    Permit  me,  my  dear  R.,  to  ask,  Is  it 


LETTER  TO  MISS  PECK. 


77 


a  necessary  part  of  the  Christian  experience  to  feel  sin  mix- 
ed with  all  that  we  do  ?  Are  we  not  taught  to  believe  that 
*  whosoever  committeth  sin  is  of  the  devil  ?'  I  do  not  men- 
tion this  to  prove  that  a  Christian  never  sins,  but  to  show 
that  sin  is  of  the  devil,  and  it  is  the  Christian's  privilege  to 
be  free  from  its  condemning  power.  But  you  are  freed,  you 
think,  by  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ.  Ah,  my  dear 
R.,  what  are  we  to  understand  by  this  ?  Will  you  ask  your- 
self the  question,  '  What  do  I  mean  by  the  imputed  right- 
eousness of  Christ  V  and  see  if  you  can  find  a  satisfactory 
answer.  Do  you  mean  that  Christ's  obedience  to  the  law 
is  imputed  to  you,  whether  you  are  obedient  or  not  ?  This 
is  the  rankest  Antinomianism,  and,  it  is  believed,  cannot  be 
supported  by  the  Scripture.  Take  care  that  by  such  doc- 
trine you  do  not  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  Universalist, 
who  under  this  plea  dreams  of  Heaven,  while  living  in 
open  rebellion  to  God.  But  perhaps  you  will  say,  1  We 
must  strive  to  obey  and  if  we  do,  shall  we  not,  through 
Christ,  be  enabled  to  succeed  ?  Can  we  not  1  do  all  things 
through  Christ  that  strengtheneth  us  V  Has  God  taught  us 
to  pray,  '  Lord,  create  me  a  clean  heart,  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me,'  and  yet  taught  us  not  to  expect  that  this 
prayer  will  be  answered  ?  Is  f  Christ's  blood  sufficient  to 
cleanse  from  all  sin,'  and  yet  never  applied  for  that  pur- 
pose ?  My  dear  friend,  I  do  not  ask  you  to  go  to  the  wri- 
tings of  any  learned  doctor  in  divinity  to  learn  the  blessings 
of  the  Gospel — go  to  some  humble  and  devout  soul,  that 
has  experienced  them  in  full.  Go  to  your  Bible,  and  there 
learn  that  Christ  wills  you  not  to  bondage,  but  to  liberty. 
Go  to  your  God,  and  pray  for  victory  over  your  enemies — for 
an  abiding  witness  of  the  spirit — for  that  perfect  love  that 
casteth  out  all  fear.  I  mention  not  these  things  to  establish 
any  particular  doctrine,  but  that  you  may  enjoy  all  that  is 
your  privilege.  I  know,  if  you  were  freed  from  the  shackles 
of  education,  your  pious,  Heaven-born  soul  would,  by  God's 
assistance,  emerge  from  the  thraldom  of  inbred  corruption 
into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God,  and  sing  ex- 
perimentally, 

'  0  glorious  hope  of  perfect  love, 
It  lifts  me  up  to  things  above.' 

7# 


78 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"But  I  shall  dwell  too  long  upon  this  interesting  subject. 
May  God  help  us  both  to  reflect  upon  it,  and  search  the 
Scriptures  to  see  if  these  things  be  so." 

"  Craftsbury,  23d  April,  1819. 

"  To  a  Lady. — My  dear  Sister, 

"  You  have,  no  doubt,  often  inquired,  1  Why  is  it  that 
God,  while  he  is  cheering  others  with  the  sunbeams  of  his 
presence,  has  seen  fit  to  envelop  me  in  darkness  ?  "Why 
am  I  left  to  that  sickness  of  the  heart  which  arises  from 
hope  deferred  V  I  have  made  this  same  inquiry,  even  on 
my  knees,  while  pleading  with  God  in  your  behalf.  '  Lord, 
why  is  it  that  our  sister  must  suffer  so  much  ?  Why  must 
she  go  mourning  from  month  to  month,  and  no  lasting  ray  of 
comfort  beam  upon  her  soul  ?  "  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ? 
Is  there  no  physician  there  ?"  Was  "religion  ever  designed 
to  make  our  pleasures  less  V  Was  it  not  given  to  make 
the  soul  happy  ?  Why,  then,  does  it  not,  in  this  instance, 
have  its  designed  effect  ?  As  a  proof  of  the  efficacy  of  thy 
Gospel ;  as  a  proof  of  the  excellency  of  the  pleasures  of  re- 
ligion over  those  of  the  world  ;  as  a  mark  of  thy  benevo- 
lence towards  the  work  of  thy  hands,  to  render  happy  a 
poor  trembling  soul,  dependant  on  thy  mercy,  appear  in 
mercy  to  our  sister,  and  whisper  peace  to  her  soul.'  To 
these  prayers  I  receive  something  like  the  following  an- 
swers :  '  Short-sighted  mortal !  To  prove  the  efficacy  of  my 
Gospel,  if  any  other  proof  were  wanted  besides  my  revealed 
Word,  you  have  many  witnesses  even  in  this  place  and 
among  this  people.  These  can,  most  of  them,  testify  to  the 
excellency  of  the  pleasures  of  religion  over  those  of  the 
world.  As  to  my  benevolence  towards  my  creatures,  the 
countless  mercies  that  I  daily  bestow  upon  them  establish  it 
beyond  the  necessity  of  farther  proof.  You  have  proof  of 
my  good- will  even  in  the  case  of  her  in  whose  behalf  you 
plead.  To  what  is  it  owing  but  to  my  mercy  that  she  is 
now  out  of  hell  ?  Why  has  she  any  desire,  more  than  she 
had  in  former  years,  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,  but  because 
I  have  granted  unto  her  the  gracious  influences  of  my  Spirit  ? 
You  plead  for  her  that   she  may   enjoy  happiness,  and 


LETTER  TO  A  LADY.  79 

• 

spend  the  days  of  her  sojourning  here  with  joy.  It  is  true 
my  religion^vas  given  to  man  for  his  enjoyment:  Not  bare- 
ly for  thJ  enjoyment  of  the  moment,  but  for  his  lasting  good, 
his  eternal  happiness.  "My  people  are  a  tried  people."  ^ 
t  They  "come  up* through  gre^t  tribulation,  and  (thus)  wash# 
their  robe^,  and  make  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 
This  subject  of  your  prayers  is  in  my  hands  ;  she  is  under 
my  particular  providence.  I  am  not  a  stranger  to  her  sighs. 
I  count  her  tears,  and  mark  the  throbs  of  her  anxious  breast. 
If  she  continue  to  struggle  with  the  waves,  if  she  keep  her- 
self unspotted  from  the  world,  if  she  attend  faithfully  to  , 
her  duty,  these  shall  not  be  in  vain.  Know  ye  not  the  prom- 
ises :  "  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  com- 
forted." "Blessed  are  ye  that  weep  now,  for  ye  shall  laugh." 
"  I  see  not  as  man  seeth."  I  try  the  reins.  I  penetrate  the 
secrets  of  the  heart.  I  see  not  only  what  is  and  what  will  be, 
but  also  what  might  have  been,  under  e\*ery  possible  variety  of 
circumstance.  Such  is  the  disposition,  and  such  the  peculiar 
besetments  of  some  of  my  creatures,  that,  in  mercy  to  them, 
and  for  the  eternal  good  of  their  souls,  I  chasten  them,  and 
withhold  from  them  the  evidence  of  my  approbation.  But 
let  them  not  therefore  despair.  I  am  still  mindful  of  them. 
"  Can  a  woman  forget  her  sucking  child,  that  she  would  not 
have  compassion  on  the  fruit  of  her  womb  ?  Yea,  they 
may  forget,  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee."  "Behold,  I  have  gra- 
ven thee  on  the  palms  of  my  hands."  Let  them,  then,  con- 
tinue to  seek  me  with  an  humble  heart.  Let  them  be  jealous 
over  themselves,  and  look  with  faith  to  their  Saviour,  and 
in  due  time  "  I  will  give  them  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of 
joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of 
heaviness."  They,  as  the  "ransomed  of  the  Lord,  shall  re- 
turn and  come  to  Zion  with  songs  of  everlasting  joy  upon 
their  heads  ;  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow 
and  sighing  shall  flee  away."  ?  It  is  only  in  this  way,  my  dear 
sister,  that  the  Lord  hath  hitherto  been  pleased  to  answer 
my  prayers.  Thus  the  real  cause  of  your  mourning  is  still 
left  out  of  sight.  Want  of  faith  and  trust  in  Christ  may  be 
one  ^ause  ;  but  there  may  be  others.  Shall  I  suggest  one  ? 
You  possess  naturally  a  strong  desire  to  please.  This  is 
commendable,  and,  when  kept  within  proper  bounds,  may  • 


80  *  LIFE  OF  WILLBUFv  FISK. 

add  much  to  the  pleasures  of  society,  and  even  to  one's 
usefulness  in  life.  But  it  should  be  exercised^in  a  proper 
way,  and  governed  by  Gospel  rules,  otherwise  this  desire 
^  to  please  will  lead  to  such  compliances  as  would  prove  de- 
structive to  the  spirit  of  devotion,  and  thus* open  the  way  to  , 
greater  evils.  Possessed  with  a  lively  disposition,  a  social 
turn,  and  a  wish  to  render  yourself  acceptable  to  all,  I  have 
often  thought,  if  you  ha'd  been  blessed  with  that  ease  of  mind 
which  many  enjoy  before  you  had  been  taught  the  wiles  of 
Satan,  you  might  have  been  led  away,  step  by  step,  till  you 
had^ost  your  confidence,  your  religion,  your  soul  !  When 
you  have  sufficiently  learned  the  Gospel  lesson,  that  there  is 
no  other  way  to  enjoy  religion  but  by  separation  from  the 
world,  by  watching  over  your  words  and  ways,  then  per- 
haps God  will  lift  upon  you  the  light  of  his  countenance. 
Submit  yourself,  then,  to  God.  Commit  yourself  to  him  in 
well-doing,  believing#that  he  is  the  rewarder,  sooner  or  later, 
of  all  who  diligently  seek  him." 

To  his  Sister. 

"  Charlestown,  Nov.  20,  1819. 

"  I  think  my  confinement  proved  a  blessing  to  me.  I  find 
every  grace  must  be  tried.  I  had  previously  been  sorely 
tempted  for  some  weeks  in  various  ways.  And  because  the 
infirmities  of  the  body  sometimes  weighed  down  the  soul, 
Satan  would  say,  1  You  have  lost  the  blessing  you  received 
at  Wellfleet'  (for  he  was  not  permitted  to  say  I  received 
none).  However,  in  the  midst  of  these  and  various  other 
temptations,  which  caused  me  to  be  '  in  heaviness,'  my  faith 
was  not  moved  from  its  object.  But  this  seemed  to  be  my 
state.  In  the  work  of  sanctification  upon  the  heart  there 
appears  to  be  two  distinct  operations  :  one  is,  to  empty  the 
soul  of  sin  and  everything  offensive ;  and  another  is,  to 
fill  it  with  love.  1.  The  strong  man  armed  is  bound  and 
cast  out.  2.  The  stronger  takes  possession.  These  are 
sometimes  effected  at  once,  and  sometimes  there  is  a  period 
elapses  between  them.*  God  was  pleased,  however,  in  my 
case,  to  empty  and  fill  at  the  same  moment.    But  to  trp  my 

*  A  person  who  has  experienced  the  former  need  never  fear  ;  for  if  he  perse- 
*  vere,  the  latter  will  follow. 


LETTER  TO  A  LADY.  81 

faith,  or  for  some  other  purpose,  that  fulness  was  after 
a  while  occasionally  withdrawn.  Still,  I  could  not  discover 
that  there  was  anything  in  my  heart  contrary  to  the  will  of 
God.  In  this  situation,  Satan  assailed  me.  Then  I  had 
reason  to  thank  God  for  fathers  and  mothers  in  the  Church 
that  could  both  instruct  me  and  pray  for  me,  but  more  es- 
pecially that  Jesus  was  my  friend  ;  for  I  felt  him  so.  I 
prayed  the  Lord  to  fill  me  and  sink  me  into  his  will  before  I 
left  my  chamber.  The  Lord  heard.  O,  my  sister,  what  a 
blessed  Saviour  we  have  !  1  He  saves  his  people  from  their 
sins.'  He  fills  them  with  his  fulness.  It  was  not  that  ecsta- 
sy of  animation  which  I  have  sometimes  felt,  but  it  was  a 
holy  sinking  into  the  will  of  God.  Often,  ever  since  that 
time,  while  I  am  sitting  in  my  chamber,  looking  at  what  the 
Saviour  has  done  for  me  and  for  the  world,  '  my  heart  is 
dissolved  in  thankfulness,  and  my  eyes  melted  to  tears.'  My 
best  hours  are  in  retirement,  holding  communion  with  my 
Saviour.  At  these  times  I  think  of  you,  in  your  seclusion 
from  the  world,  and  think  what  blessings  you  may  enjoy  if 
you  seek  and  obtain  all  that  is  your  privilege.  Every  day  I 
bear  your  case  to  our  Heavenly  Father.  O,  sister  !  be  in 
earnest.  You  must  be  holy ;  but  it  will  cost  you  a  strug- 
gle. Though  you  have  not  wandered  as  far  as  I  did,  yet 
you  continued  too  long  a  1  slain  witness.'  But  perhaps  the 
Lord  will  bring  you  in  a  way  you  have  not  known.  Leave 
with  him  entirely  the  manner  how,  and  the  means  by  which 
you  are  to  be  brought.  Ask  the  Lord  for  just  what  you  want : 
a  victory  over  inbred  corruption,  a  fulness  of  love,  an  abi- 
ding witness  of  the  Spirit.  Stop  not  to  debate  the  question 
with  the  enemy  whether  you  were  ever  converted.  The 
question  is,  What  do  I  want  ?  And,  when  you  have  discov- 
ered your  wants,  carry  them  to  Him  in  whom  all  fulness 
dwells — to  Jesus.  The  very  name,  sinful  and  unworthy  as 
you  may  feel  yourself,  will  afford  you  encouragement.  "What 
says  the  angel  ?  <  Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus.'  Why, 
heavenly  messenger,  why  call  his  name  Jesus  ?  '  Because 
he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.'  What  a  significant 
name !  What  an  encouraging  name !  What  a  sweet-sound- 
ing name  !" 

L 


82 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"December  1st,  1819. 

"  To  Miss  Peck, 

"  You  express,  my  dear  friend,  great  anxiety  of  mind,  be- 
cause you  fear  that  you  love  God  from  selfish  motives.  It 
is  true,  we  should  always  examine  ourselves  and  try  our 
hearts  ;  but  Satan,  my  dear,  may  harass  us  both  ways.  We 
have  a  God  of  mercy  and  of  wisdom,  who  knows  how  to 
suit  his  requirements  to  the  radical  principles  of  our  moral 
constitution.  He  does  not  require  us  to  love  Him,  con- 
sidered abstractly  from  our  own  happiness.  He  has  been 
graciously  pleased,  in  all  his  requirements,  intimately  and 
inseparably  to  connect  our  own  happiness  with  His  declara- 
tive glory.  And  what  right  have  we  to  separate  them  ? 
Indeed,  we  cannot  separate  them  ;  nor  does  God  require  it. 
He  always  wishes  us  to  look  forward  to  the  prize.  This 
supports  us  under  afflictions,  and  cheers  us  in  our  journey. 
So  David  looked  back  upon  what  God  had  done  for  him 
as  a  motive  to  love.  I  will  love  the  Lord,  because  he  hath 
heard  my  voice  and  my  supplication.  —  Psalm  cxvi.,  1. 
So  Moses  looked  forward  to  an  expected  reward  ;  for  it  is 
written  (Hebrews,  xi.,  25,  26)  that  he  '  chose  rather  to  suffer 
affliction  with  the  people  of  God  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures 
of  sin  for  a  season :  esteeming  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater 
riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt.'  Why  ?  *  For  he  had 
respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  reward.'  That  self-love 
which  leads  you  to  please  self  at  the  expense  of  your  obedi- 
ence to  God  is  highly  reprehensible.  This  kind  of  self 
must  be  denied,  for  the  fruit  of  it  is  not  love  to  God.  Love 
to  God  is  something  that  can  be  felt  in  the  soul,  something 
that  Satan  himself  cannot  counterfeit.  If  you  have  this  gen- 
uine love,  you  know  it.  Do  not,  my  dear,  suffer  the  enemy 
to  harass  and  disturb  you  on  account  of  your  motives  in  lov- 
ing God.  None  but  a  good  motive  can  induce  you  to  love 
God  in  his  true  character.  Any  motive,  then,  that  leads  to 
this,  lay  hold  of.  Is  your  heart  melted  into  tenderness  and 
love  while  contemplating  what  the  Saviour  has  done  for 
you  ?  Is  your  soul  transported  with  delight,  from  a  view, 
by  faith,  of  an  expected  paradise  ?  Let  these  be  motives  to 
draw  you  on  to  love  and  obedience.    This  will  bring  you 


LETTERS. 


83 


nearer  to  God  ;  consequently,  brighten  your  prospects  ;  and 
these,  again,  will  increase  your  love.  Thus  you  will  go  on 
from  grace  to  grace,  and  from  glory  to  glory,  4  until  faith 
shall  be  swallowed  up  in  sight,  and  hope  lost  in  full  frui- 
tion !'  O  the  depth  of  God's  wisdom  and  mercy  towards 
us  !  For  such  a  glorious  plan,  '  bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ; 
and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  and  praise  His  holy  name.'  " 

To  the  Same. 

"  February  21st,  1820. 
"  On  the  subject  of  loving  God  '  for  what  he  is  in  and  of 
himself,'  you  have  quoted  a  passage  which  seems  to  convey 
the  idea  that  we  ought  to,  and  can  love  God,  even  if  he 
do  not  love  us.  According  to  my  view  of  the  subject,  I 
could  no  more  love  a  God  that  did  not  love  me,  than  rec- 
oncile the  widest  contradictions.  It  is  in  him  I  (spiritually) 
i  live,  and  move,  and  have  my  being.'  I  love  him,  because 
Jesus  is  formed  in  me  the  hope  of  glory.  I  love  him  as  he 
has  communicated  himself  to  me.  What  he  has  not  com- 
municated I  know  nothing  about.  By  faith  we  become  one 
with  him.  And  so  far  as  this  oneness  exists,  so  far  we  love 
him,  so  far  we  enjoy  him,  and  so  far  we  are  made  partakers 
of  the  same  nature ;  and  this  is  why  we  love  him,  because 
he  has  imparted  to  us  his  nature,  which  is  love.  But  on 
this  ground,  my  dear,  we  will  not  contend  ;  only  let  us  love 
him — love  him  with  all  our  heart.  The  simplest  peasant, 
that  cannot  decide  any  metaphysical  question  about  motives, 
can,  if  born  of  God,  say,  1  By  this  I  know  that  I  love  him, 
by  the  spirit  which  he  has  given  me.'  " 

To  a  Lady  who  had  presented  him  with  an  Umbrella. 

"  Charlestown,  February  8th,  1820. 
"  I  return  my  sincere  acknowledgments  to  you  for  the 
last ,  as  well  as  for  all  former  favours  conferred  upon  me, 
and  can  only  wish  that  the  object  of  your  benevolence  was 
more  deserving.  But  I  have  one  consolation,  when  the  fa- 
vours of  my  friends  make  me,  more  sensibly  than  ever,  feel 
my  unworthiness.  It  is  this  :  whatever  becomes  of  me,  they 
will  not  lose  their  reward ;  for  our  Lord  says,  '  Whoever 


84 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FfSK. 


gives  a  cup  of  cold  water  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  shall  not 
lose  his  reward.'  However  undeserving  the  person  favoured 
may  be,  yet  the  design  and  intention  of  the  person  confer- 
ring the  favour  shall  secure  to  him  his  reward.  In  this  view 
of  the  subject,  I  rejoice  at  every  act  which  manifests  a  de- 
sire to  promote  the  temporal  welfare  of  the  professed  mes- 
sengers of  peace.  '  Not  because  I  desire  a  gift :  but  I  desire 
fruit  that  may  abound  to  their  account.' — Philippians,  iv.,  17. 
'  But  I  rejoiced  in  the  Lord  greatly,  that  now  at  the  last 
your  care  of  me  hath  flourished  again.  Not  that  I  speak  in 
respect  of  want :  for  I  have  learned,  in  whatsoever  state  I 
am,  therewith  to  be  content'  (v.  10,  11).  But  when  I  con- 
sider my  own  unworthiness,  my  own  unprofitableness  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  I  wonder  that  I  am  blessed  with  the  crumbs 
that  fall  from  my  Master's  table  ;  and  yet  he  is  continually 
feeding  me  with  children's  bread.  When  I  consider  the 
suffering  life  my  Master  led,  the  privations  and  hardships 
which  he  endured, 

"  '  I  blush  in  all  things  to  abound ; 
The  servant  is  above  his  Lord.'' 

"  I  assure  you,  these  are  not  the  unmeaning  expressions  of 
a  1  voluntary  humility;'  they  are  the  heartfelt  sentiments  of 
my  soul.  What  has  God  done  for  me,  and  how  little  have 
I  done  for  him  !  While  I  write  my  eyes  are  melted  to  tears 
at  the  reflection.    He  called  me  in  my  youth  to  serve  him ; 

"  'And  when,  like  wandering  sheep,  I  strayed, 
He  brought  me  to  his  fold  again;' 

and,  after  a  life  of  disobedience,  he  still  blesses  me.  When 
I  reluctantly  entered  into  his  vineyard,  he  nevertheless  bless- 
ed me,  and  still  continues  his  favours.  He  gives  me  favour 
in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  and,  what  is  more,  opens  their 
hearts  to  hear  the  Word,  and  gives  me  a  hope  that  these 
will  one  day  shine  as  stars  in  my  crown  of  rejoicing.  Among 
that  number  I  trust  you  will  be  one.  If  you  continue  to 
press  forward  after  holiness  of  heart,  you  will  undoubtedly 
be  among  the  number.  O  Lord !  if  in  that  day  of  rejoi- 
cing I  am  thus  crowned,  I  will  only  receive  that  crown  to 
cast  it  at  Thy  feet,  and  1  cry  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Sal- 
vation to  our  God  which  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
the  Lamb.' 


LETTER  TO  A  LADY. 


85 


14  But  I  began  to  make  my  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
you.  What  shall  I  say  ?  While  in  life's  journey  you  have 
to  pass  through  scorching  heat  and  sultry  blasts,  may  you 
ever  find  yourself  sheltered  by  Him  who  is  1  the  shadow  of  a 
great  rock  in  a  weary  land.'  Whenever  you  are  assailed 
by  the  floods  of  temptation  and  the  storms  of  malice,  may 
Christ  be  your  slielter  from  the  stormy  blast.  And,  finally, 
when  God  shall  rain  1  an  horrible  tempest'  upon  an  ungodly 
world,  may  he  spread  his  canopy  over  you,  and  may  4  his 
banner  over  you  be  love.'  May  your  name  be  found  '  gra- 
ven upon  the  palms  of  his  hands,'  and  impressed  in  unfading 
character's  on  the  Lamb's  fair  Book  of  Life.  These  are 
the  prayers  which  your  much  obliged  friend  and  brother  will 
put  up,  when,  for  his  own  convenience,  he  makes  use  of  your 
highly-prized  present  for  a  shelter  or  a  shade. 

"  May  God  help  us  both  to  live  for  him,  and  him  alone, 
the  few  revolving  suns  we  have  to  spend  on  earth  ;  and  then, 
as  we  pass  along,  we  can  sing, 

11  '  No  burning  heats  by  day, 
Nor  blasts  of  wintry  air, 
Can  take  my  health  away 
If  God  be  with  me  there. 
Thou  art  my  sun, 
And  thou  my  shade, 
To  guard  my  head 
By  night  or  noon.' 

"  And  when  we  leave  this  earth,  we  shall  go  to  those 
healthful  shores 

" '  Where  chilling  winds  and  poisonous  breath 
Are  felt  and  feared  no  more ;' 

where  no  drenching  torrents  nor  burning  suns  will  afflict 
us  ;  for  the  air  will  be  cooled  only  by  the  refreshing  breezes 
from  Zion's  Hill,  and  illuminated  by  the  mild  and  shining 
rays  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 

"  Pray  that  I  may  ever  be  kept  humble  and  useful,  and  I 
will  reckon  that  not  the  least  among  the  favours  conferred 
upon  your  unworthy  friend  and  brother  in  Christ." 
8 


86 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Charlestown  continued. — Calumny. — Sickness. — State  of  Mind. — Returns  to 
Vermont. — Letters. — Sketch  of  Character. 

The  New-England  Conference,  to  which  Mr.  Fisk  was 
attached,  met  this  year  on  the  20th  of  June,  at  Nantucket. 
Here  he  was  admitted  into  full  connexion,  and  ordained  a 
deacon.  He  was  reappointed  to  Charlestown,  where  he 
immediately  resumed  his  labours. 

This  year  also  he  attended  the  Commencement  of  Brown 
University,  and  at  the  particular  solicitation  of  his  friends, 
for  he  was  very  indifferent  about  it  himself,  he  took  his 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

Soon  after  his  return  he  wrote  to  Miss  Peck  as  follows : 

"  Charlestown,  September  18th,  1820. 

"My  Dear  R., 

"  I  returned  home  the  day  I  parted  with  you,  but  not  in 
time  to  attend  to  my  meeting  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  was  so 
fatigued  with  the  warm,  dusty,  and  tiresome  passage,  that  I 
was  unfit  for  the  duties  of  the  evening.    I  believe  I  must 
enjoin  it  upon  you  not  to  solicit  me  again  to  stay  beyond  my 
appointed  time.    My  head  and  ear  were  very  troublesome 
and  painful  for  some  days  after  I  returned,  but  have  now 
almost  recovered.    I  find  my  little  flock  for  the  most  part 
well,  engaged,  and  united  ;  had  an  excellent  season  yester- 
day in  preaching  to  them,  especially  in  the  morning,  while 
impressing  upon  them  the  necessity  of  heart-holiness,  of  wa- 
ging a  war  of  extermination  with  their  internal  enemies,  and 
of  pleading  constantly  for  the  holy  doctrines  of  the  cross.  I 
thought  at  the  close,  i  I  wish  my  dear  R.  could  have  been 
present.'    But  perhaps  my  arguments  on  that  subject  would 
not  have  been  to  her  very  weighty.    I  have,  however,  to 
make  one  request  of  you,  and  that  is,  that  you  would  exam- 
ine the  Scriptures  with  prayerful  attention  with  regard  to 
the  subject  of  a  deeper  work  of  grace  :  especially  examine 


LETTER  TO  MISS  PECK. 


87 


those  passages  that  relate  to  a  death  to  sin  and  to  a  life  of 
faith  :  such  are,  Romans,  vi.,  2,  6,  7,  11,  12,  &c.  ;  Gala- 
tians,  ii.,  20,  and  vi.,  14,  with  many  others.  Also  those  that 
relate  to  cleansing:  such  are,  2  Corinthians,  vii.,  1;  He- 
brews, x.,  22  ;  2  Peter,  i.,  4  ;  1  John,  i.,  7  ;  Hebrews,  ix., 
14  ;  1  Thessalonians,  v.,  23.  Also  those  that  relate  to  being 
filled  with  God,  with  the  Spirit,  &c.  :  such  are,  Ephesians, 
hi.,  19,  and  v.,  18  ;  Acts,  xiii.,  52.  And  when  you  have 
examined  these,  ask  yourself  whether  most  of  those  profess- 
ing Christians  with  whom  you  are  acquainted  walk  by  this 
rule.  Are  they  dead  to  the  world  ?  Are  they  alive  to  God  ? 
Are  they  cleansed  from  sin  ?  Has  the  old  leaven  been  pur- 
ged out  ?  Does  it  appear  that  God  dwells  in  them  ?  Are 
they  filled  with  his  Spirit  ?  Perhaps  it  may  be  said  they 
are  seeking  and  striving  to  walk  by  this  rule.  Some  of  them, 
I  trust,  are  ;  but  we  have  reason  to  fear  most  of  those  who 
have  named  the  name  of  Christ  do  not  thus  strive.  Unless 
living  according  to  the  course  of  this  world,  pleading  for  sin 
in  heart,  and  sinful  indulgences  in  life  ;  unless  contending 
for  the  form,  but  denying  the  power ;  setting  the  affections 
on  things  below,  and  not  on  things  above ;  trusting  to  past 
experience  without  a  present  witness ;  unless  indulging  sin- 
ful tempers,  unholy  desires,  and  worldly  propensities,  is  death 
to  the  world,  is  the  life  of  faith,  is  purification  from  sin,  is 
being  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God,  we  have  reason  to  fear 
there  are  quite  too  many  that  neither  walk  by  this  rule,  nor 
are  striving  so  to  do.  When  reflecting  upon  this  subject,  I 
am  often  constrained  to  ask,  with  fear  and  anxiety,  '  Lord, 
are  there  few  that  be  saved  V  And  then,  turning  to  myself, 
I  ask,  with  still  more  solicitude,  Lord,  shall  I  be  among  that 
few  ?  And  while  writing  to  you,  as  I  feel  your  interests 
closely  connected  with  mine,  leaving  all  others  to  stand  or 
fall  to  their  own  master,  I  ask,  Shall  we  be  among  that  few  ? 
O  my  God,  if  the  soul  is  once  lost,  it  is  forever  gone.  And, 
my  dear,  what  are  our  hearts  ?  Is  pride  remaining  ?  Is  a 
disposition  to  please  the  world,  to  attend  to  worldly  trifles, 
to  seek  for  worldly  ease,  to  talk  of  worldly  things,  prevailing 
in  our  breasts  ?  How  unfit  a  residence  is  the  soul  for  the 
Holy  Spirit!" 


88 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


While  in  Charlestown  our  subject  passed  through  a  fiery- 
ordeal.  By  some  means  the  most  vile  slanders  were  put  in 
circulation  touching  his  moral  character.  The  precise  cir- 
cumstances I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain ;  nor  is  it 
worth  inquiry,  since  his  innocence  was  fully  attested  by  the 
subsequent  confession  of  the  slanderer,  which  was  read  be- 
fore the  public  congregation.*  Yet  such  was  the  effect  of 
the  calumny,  that  for  a  time  it  threatened  the  destruction  of 
his  usefulness.  His  congregations  decreased ;  many  lost 
confidence  in  him  ;  and  so  far  had  some  gone,  that,  even 
after  the  confession  of  the  traducer,  they  would  never  hear 
him  again.  It  is  a  wonderful  Providence  that  permits  the 
usefulness  of  good  men  to  be  sometimes  interrupted  by  such 
groundless  calumnies.  But  St.  Athanasius,  John  Bunyan, 
and  the  "judicious"  Hooker  had  the  same  charge  brought 
against  them,  with  about  as  much  truth  as  in  the  case  of  the 
faithful  Joseph  or  the  chaste  Susannah. 

Some  of  his  trials  were  rather  diverting,  and  only  served 
to  show  his  invincible  sweetness  of  disposition,  as  well  as  his 
tact  in  dealing  with  men.  The  vicious  young  men  of  the 
place,  sometimes  standing  in  groups  in  the  streets,  when  they 
saw  him  coming  would  make  a  passage,  and,  in  evident 
mock  civility,  take  off  their  hats  ;  but  he,  seeming  to  consid- 
er it  all  in  earnest,  returned  the  salutation  by  taking  off  his  ! 
Finding  they  could  not  irritate  him,  they  soon  grew  tired  of 
the  joke. 

But  Mr.  Fisk's  labours  were  now  destined  to  meet  with  a 
sudden  and  protracted  interruption.  He  had  laboured  far 
beyond  the  limit  of  prudence.  He  frequently  preached  thrice 
on  the  Sabbath,  twice  or  thrice  through  the  week,  attended 
meeting  of  some  kind  every  evening,  and  generally  visited 
several  (often  eight  or  ten)  families  a  day  for  religious  con- 
versation and  prayer.  No  frame  could  long  endure  to  have 
the  mind  kept  in  such  a  constant  state  of  tension.  His  mode 
of  life  did  not  allow  him  time  enough  for  the  bodily  exercise 
requisite  to  maintain  the  degree  of  strength  such  mental  ex- 
ertions demand.  It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  the 
habits  of  many  studious  men  are  so  at  variance  with  the 

*  The  confession  is  now  before  me,  signed  with  his  own  name.  He  renewed, 
when  on  his  death-bed,  this  confession  to  Mr.  Fisk. 


SICKNESS. 


89 


laws  of  health.  They  go  on  the  erroneous  theory  that  all 
time  is  lost  which  is  not  devoted  to  their  chosen  pursuit,  for- 
getting that  no  time  is  really  lost  which  is  increasing  our 
capacity  for  happiness  and  usefulness,  and  that  this  capacity 
depends  upon  the  proportionate  development  of  all  our  fac- 
ulties, moral,  intellectual,  and  physical.* 

Mr.  Fisk  had  already  suffered  severely  while  in  Charles- 
town  from  catarrhal  affections  ;  but  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber of  this  year  (1820),  while  as  well  as  usual  in  other  re- 
spects, he  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  copious  hemorrhage 
from  the  lungs,  which  returned  five  several  times,  so  that  he 
was  confined  to  his  chamber,  and  a  good  share  of  the  time 
to  his  bed,  until  the  following  March.  During  this  period 
his  life  seemed  to  hang  on  a  vapour.  His  physicians  gave 
him  up,  and  his  father  was  sent  for  to  be  present  at  the  clo- 
sing scene.  But  on  the  very  night  when  his  friends  were 
gathered  round  his  bed,  and  expecting  every  moment  to  be 
his  last,  his  Church,  with  the  churches  in  Boston,  including 
some  of  other  denominations,  were  engaged  in  solemn  and 
importunate  prayer  for  his  recovery.  The  meetings  were 
called  in  special  reference  to  his  case  ;  and  He  who  said 
"  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,"  rebuked  the  disor- 

*  The  devoted  Payson  gave  some  very  good  advice,  piquantly  expressed,  to  a 
student  in  Divinity  on  the  preservation  of  his  health, 

"  A  merciful  man,"  he  says,  "  is  merciful  to  his  beast,  and  you  must  be  mer-. 
ciful  to  your  beast,  or,  as  Mr.  M.  would  say,  to  your  '  animal.'  Remember  that 
it  is  your  Master's  property  ;  and  he  will  no  more  thank  you  for  driving  it  to 
death,  than  an  earthly  master  would  thank  a  servant  for  riding  a  valuable  horse 
to  death  under  pretence  of  zeal  for  his  interest.  The  truth  is,  I  am  afraid  Satan 
has  jumped  on  to  the  saddle  ;  and  when  he  is  there,  in  the  guise  of  an  angel  of 
light,  he  whips  and  spurs  at  a  most  unmerciful  rate,  as  every  joint  in  my  poor 
broken-winded  animal  can  testify  from  woful  experience.  *  *  *  Remember  Mr. 
Brainard's  remark,  that  diversions,  rightly  managed,  increased  rather  than  di- 
minished his  spirituality.  I  now  feel  that  I  am  never  serving  our  Master  more 
acceptably  than  when,  for  his  sake,  I  am  using  means  to  preserve  my  health  and 
lengthen  my  life.  *  *  *  Ride,  then,  or  go  a  fishing,  or  employ  yourself  in  any 
way  which  will  exercise  the  body  gently  without  wearying  the  mind."  But  alas 
for  human  wisdom  !  Had  Dr.  Payson  followed  the  advice  he  gave,  he  might, 
possibly,  have  blessed  the  world  with  his  labours  for  many  years  longer.  Yet, 
when  recommended  to  take  a  sea-voyage  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  his  reply 
was  that  he  "  had  not  time  !"  The  most  lavish  waste  of  time  is  sapping  the  con- 
stitution  ;  for  it  is  hurrying  to  a  premature  grave.  But  the  importance  of  these 
views,  unfortunately,  are  often  not  appreciated  until  it  is  too  late  to  profit  by  them. 

8*  M 


90 


LIFE   OF   WILLBUR  FISK. 


der.  His  symptoms  began  to  improve  from  that  night.  Mr. 
Fisk  always  believed  that  he  was  raised  up  in  answer  to 
prayer. 

It  is  a  rather  too  common  opinion  among  Christians  that 
the  test  of  progress  in  piety  consists  in  an  increase  of  sensi- 
ble enjoyment  in  religion.  But  joy  in  Christ  is  only  one  of 
the  "fruits  of  the  Spirit,"  and  it  is  the  one  which  depends 
most  on  natural  causes.  The  state  of  the  health,  particularly 
of  the  nervous  system,  agreeable  circumstances,  the  natural 
temperament,  and  the  peculiar  quality  of  the  imagination, 
greatly  modify  the  susceptibility  of  joyous  emotion.  Hence 
the  increase  of  joy  is,  of  itself,  no  certain  proof  of  growth  in 
grace.  The  sure  marks  of  this  are,  increased  knowledge  of 
ourselves,  victory  over  sin,  deadness  to  the  world,  improve- 
ment in  Christian  tempers.  In  these  the  Christian  often  ad- 
vances most  rapidly  under  comparative  depression.  "  Now, 
if  need  be,"  said  an  apostle,  "  ye  are  in  heaviness  through 
manifold  temptations."  For  he  is  then  constrained  to  cry 
out,  "  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try  me,  and 
know  my  thoughts ;  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in 
me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting." 

The  following  passages  will  show  that,  though  he  was  not 
always  "  filled  with  comfort,  and  exceeding  joyful  in  all 
his  tribulation,"  yet  he  was  growing*  in  the  vital  elements 

*  That  excellent  and  useful  writer,  Miss  Hannah  More,  in  one  of  her  tracts, 
but  not  the  most  judicious  of  them,  says  that  Christian  perfection  would  ex- 
clude all  farther  growth  in  grace.  I  answer  her  from  a  dignitary  of  her  own 
Church,  to  whose  opinions  her  admirers  will  pay  more  respect  than  to  mine. 
After  describing  a  perfect  Christian,  much  as  Mr.  Wesley  would,  he  shows  that 
"  Reason  and  Scripture  press  us  on  towards  an  endless  progress  in  virtue. 
Such  a  degree  of  excellence  to  which  nothing  can  be  added ;  such  a  height, 
above  which  there  is  no  room  to  soar,  if  applied  to  man  and  this  world,  is  surely  but 
an  imaginary  notion  To  dream  of  such  a  perfection  were  to  forget  our  nature 
and  our  state  ;  no  sagacity  of  judgment,  no  strength  of  resolution,  no  felicity  of 
circumstances,  can  ever  advance  us  to  this  height.  Such  a  perfection  as  this, 
that  is  incapable  of  any  increase,  belongs  to  God  alone.  It  is  hard  to  conceive 
how  we  should  enjoy  divine  faith  without  growing  in  spiritual  wisdom  and  un- 
derstanding ;  it  is  hard  to  conceive  how  we  should  give  God,  the  world,  and  our- 
selves repeated  proofs  of  our  integrity  in  the  day  of  trial,  without  increasing  our 
strength  and  assurance  ;  and  love  must  naturally  increase  with  these.  Whence 
it  is  that  St.  Paul,  acknowledging  himself  not  yet  perfect,*  resolves  that,  "  For- 


*  That  is,  in  this  sense  ;  for  in  the  other  sense  he  says,  "  Let  us,  as  many  as  be  perfect." 


EXERCISES  IN  HIS  SICKNESS. 


91 


of  piety.  His  "  affliction,  though  not  joyous,  but  grievous, 
afterward  yielded  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness." 

"March  20,  1821. 

"  To  Miss  Peck. 

"You  will  help  me  to  thank  God  for  his  mercy  to  me 
in  sickness^  for  temporal  and  spiritual  comforts.  Grati- 
tude ought  to  swell  my  heart  to  God  and  my  many  kind 
friends.  I  trust  I  am  not  insensible  to  the  renewed  obliga- 
tions I  am  under.  But  we  are  frail  mortals;  we  know  not 
our  strength  until  it  is  tried.  I  have  learned  some  new  les- 
sons of  my  own  frail  heart  in  this  sickness,  which  I  trust 
will  be  useful  to  me  in  life  or  death,  by  helping  me  to  keep 
at  the  Saviour's  feet.  Nowhere  else  are  we  safe.  I  some- 
times get  a  glimpse  of  that  humility ,  purity  >  and  holiness  with 
which  a  minister  of  the  blessed  Jesus  should  be  clothed,  and 
its  loveliness  ravishes  my  very  soul,  and  sinks  me  in  the  dust 
before  him,  in  view  of  my  own  nothingness ;  and  I  strive  to 
plead  with  him  to  put  this  comeliness  on  me,  even  worthless 
me.  O,  my  dear  R.,  pray  much  for  your  unworthy  W. ; 
pray  not  so  much  for  my  life  and  health  as  for  an  increase 
of  godliness  in  my  soul,  that  I  may  be  ripening  into  a  meet- 
ness  for  all  the  will  of  God.  Shall  I  retrace  my  steps  to  life 
and  health,  and  forget  that  I  have  been  where  I  could  al- 
most see  the  realities  of  the  eternal  world?  Forbid  it, 
Heaven  !  Rather  let  the  solemnities  of  eternity  rest  upon 
me,  'so  that  I  may  finish  my  course  with  joy  and,  if 
spared,  '  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.'  " 

During  Mr.  Fisk's  illness  the  following  characteristic  in- 
cident occurred :  A  gentleman  who  greatly  admired  nis 
preaching  called  to  see  him.  Mr.  Fisk  inquired  of  him  if 
he  had  heard  the  young  minister  preach  who  occasionally 
supplied  his  place  in  the  pulpit.  The  gentleman  replied  in 
the  affirmative,  signified  his  gratification,  and,  by  way  of 

getting  those  things  that  are  behind,  and  reaching  forward  to  those  that  are 
before,  he  would  press  on  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus"  (Phil.,  iii.,  13,  14).— Dr.  Lucas's  Inquiry  after  Happiness, 
part  iii.,  sect,  ii.,  ch.  vi. 


92 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


confirming  it,  added  that  he  preached  "  almost  as  well  as  Mr. 
Fisk."  The  invalid  immediately  raised  his  languid  eyes,  and 
with  a  deep  sigh,  in  a  most  impressive  tone,  replied,  "  That 
is  saying  very  little  in  his  favour ;  for  I  am  willing  to  sit  at 
any  man's  feet  who  preaches  the  Gospel." 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  will  show  his  feelings 
in  view  of  his  prospects. 

"  I  despair  of  being  able  to  preach  much  this  season,  if  at 
all.  O,  my  dear  friend,  what  a  useless  being  I  am  becom- 
ing to  myself  and  every  one  else.  But  it  is  the  Lord,  and  I 
ought  not  to,  I  cannot  complain.  He  does  not  stand  in  need 
of  my  poor  services ;  or  if  he  do,  he  can  supply  them  with 
the  labour  of  another,  who  will  be  more  faithful  and  success- 
ful in  cultivating  his  vineyard,  and  more  careful  to  render 
him  the  fruit  in  its  season.  Yet  I  must  confess,  though  I 
know  I  am  not  worthy  to  be  a  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of 
God,  or  even  to  wash  the  saints'  feet,  it  would  be  a  great 
cross  to  me  not  to  be  actively  engaged  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Until  I  began  to  labour  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  my  life  was 
a  restless,  anxious  scene  ;  but  when  I  began  the  ministry,  I 
got  home,  where  my  soul  could  exercise  and  rest  with  satis- 
faction. But  in  the  midst  of  all  I  was  checked.  "When  I  had 
reconnoitred  the  enemy's  camp,  had  estimated  their  strength, 
meditated  on  the  best  mode  of  attack,  exercised  myself  to 
some  little  purpose  in  the  Gospel  armour,  and  began  to 
calculate  with  no  small  confidence,  that  by  the  grace  of  God 
I  should  be  able  to  do  some  injury  to  the  foe,  disease  came, 
and,  like  a  messenger  of  God,  said,  1  Thou  shalt  not  go  up 
against  this  people  to  battle  !'  O  Lord  !  with  submission  I 
throw  myself  at  thy  feet,  and  plead  with  thee  ;  if  it  can  be 
thy  will,  if  it  will  be  for  the  good  of  thy  Church  and  my  own 
soul,  if  there  be  any  humble  employment  where  a  worm 
can  serve  thee,  '  here  am  I,  send  me.'  1  But  O  !  Father, 
not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.'  " 

The  latter  part  of  May  Mr.  Fisk  left  Charlestown  for  his 
father's  house,  which  by  slow  and  easy  stages  he  reached  in 
safety  on  the  25th  of  June.  On  the  way  he  wTrote  a  letter, 
from  which  we  extract  a  passage,  to  his  good  friend  Mrs. 
Goodwin,  whose  four  daughters  were  seals  of  his  ministry  in 
Charlestown. 


RETURNS  HOME. 


93 


Speaking  of  attending  a  love-feast  the  evening  before,  he 
proceeds  :  "  We,  I  say,  as  though  I  was  something  in  the 
meeting  ;  but,  in  truth,  I  am  nothing-.  I  never  was  much, 
but  still  I  find  it  a  hard  lesson  to  learn  to  be  nothing.  But 
such  I  am,  and  such  I  am  likely  to  be  at  present ;  yea,  though  I 
had  my  strength  and  health  as  usual,  yet  I  see  that  I  should  be 
almost  of  no  consequence  in  this  world.  It  is  not  that  I  wish 
to  decry  myself  that  I  thus  speak  ;  but  this  proud,  this  once 
ambitious  and  aspiring  heart,  has  learned  by  severe  lessons 
1  to  shrink  into  itself  and  be  a  fool.'  But,  sin  excepted,  I  am 
what  the  Lord  made  me ;  and  if  he  can  use  me  in  any  way 
for  his  glory,  he  shall  have  the  praise.  'I  had  rather  be  a 
doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  my  God,'  than  to  arrive  at  all  the 
honours  of  the  world. 

"  My  health  is  as  good  as  when  I  left  C,  and  I  think  my 
strength  is  increasing.  But  my  journey  seems  a  mountain. 
I  hope,  however,  by  the  strength  of  God,to  get  over  it  in  some 
way,  as,  indeed,  I  shall  get  over  the  whole  journey  of  life 
soon.  O !  who  would  live  in  this  world  forever  ?  Contend- 
ing with  difficulties  that  require  all  our  skill  and  resolution 
to  meet  and  overcome ;  putting  up  with  inconveniences  at 
every  turn ;  parting  with  friends  that  wring  the  heart,  and 
fighting  with  foes  that  would  destroy  the  soul — these  form 
the  business  of  life.  But  let  us  not,  like  cowards,  wish  to  de- 
sert our  posts  before  we  are  regularly  discharged ;  but  1  all 
our  appointed  time,'  let  us  '  wait  until  our  change  come.' 
'  Happy  is  that  servant  whom,  when  his  Lord  cometh,'  he 
shall  find  so  doing  !" 

Having  now  arrived  at  a  pause  in  our  history,  we  shall 
embrace  the  opportunity  to  present  some  of  Mr.  Fisk's  lead- 
ing characteristics  as  a  preacher  and  a  man. 

His  discourses  generally  were  more  in  the  nature  of  hom- 
ilies than  sermons,  being  rather  explications  of  texts  than 
discussions  of  topics.  His  subjects  were  judiciously  cho- 
sen, being  such  as  were  adapted  to  the  wants  of  his  people 
rather  than  to  the  most  favourable  exhibition  of  his  own 
powers.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  at  any  loss  for  a 
suitable  variety  of  pulpit  materials.  His  own  heart,  deeply 
interested  as  it  was  in  the  welfare  of  his  hearers,  helped  to 


94 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


furnish  this  variety  ;*  but,  as  an  assistance,  he  kept  a  list  of 
such  texts  as  struck  him  with  any  peculiar  force.  A  book 
lies  before  me  with  not  less  than  four  hundred  texts  written 
fully  out.  His  aim  in  preaching  was  evidently  not  to  startle 
by  novelty,  nor  amaze  by  profundity,  nor  bewilder  by  ab- 
struseness;  but  to  "  commend  himself  to  every  man's  con- 
science in  the  sight  of  God,"  and  be  the  instrument  of  bring- 
ing sinners  to  piety,  and  the  pious  to  holiness. 

Hence  all  his  aims  at  the  intellect  had  an  ultimate  bear- 
ing upon  the  heart  and  conscience.  He  kept  his  own  mind 
in  contact  with  that  of  his  hearers  by  addressing  them  in  the 
second  person  rather  than  in  the  third :  he  preached  to  them, 
not  about  them,  nor  about  mankind  in  general.  He  seldom 
employed  abstract  or  logical  terms,  and  his  reasoning,  there- 
fore, was  more  popular  than  scholastic.  His  manner  was 
rather  that  of  a  lawyer  endeavouring  to  convince  a  jury, 
than  that  of  a  professor  instructing  a  class.  If  he  struck  a 
chord  that  vibrated,  he  followed  up  the  impression,  touched 
and  retouched  it  with  delicacy  and  skill,  until  his  audience 
was  often  melted  down  under  the  power  of  his  eloquence. 
He  frequently  preached  with  tears,  and  was  sometimes  over- 
whelming. It  was  not  unusual  for  the  guilty  to  cry  out  un- 
der his  preaching  when  pierced  by  "  the  two-edged  sword." 
Sometimes  the  outcry,  though  equally  complimentary,  per- 
haps, to  his  eloquence,  was  not  so  gratifying  to  his  piety. 
On  one  occasion,  while  preaching  with  great  enlargement  on 
the  final  judgment  of  the  wicked,  a  man  rose  as  in  a  phrensy, 
stamped  upon  the  floor,  and  with  a  horrible  oath  rushed  out 
of  the  house.  His  sermons,  as  the  reader  has  seen  from  his 
"  Resolutions,"  were  well  studied  ;  they  were  regularly 
thought  through,  and  systematically  arranged  ;  but  he  great- 
ly eschewed  the  practice  of  memorizing,  or  preaching  from 
notes.  He  did  not  take  a  scrap  with  him  into  the  pulpit. 
Writing  to  his  friend  after  a  season  of  great  liberty  in  preach- 

*  "The  heart  acquires  by  piety  and  devotion,  dispositions  and  sentiments 
which  render  the  inventive  powers  fertile,  and  clothe  the  effusions  of  the  soul 
with  a  felicity  of  expression  that  cannot  fail  to  interest  the  people,  because  it  is 
the  heart  that  speaks.  On  the  contrary,  whatever  does  not  proceed  from  the 
heart  is  seldom  more  than  affectation  ;  '  invito.  Minerva,'  it  is  contrary  to  nature." 
— Ostervald  on  the  Composition  and  Delivery  of  a  Sermon,  section  9. 


SKETCH  OF  CHARACTER. 


95 


ing,  he  observes,  u  O,  Mr.  Taft,  I  would  not  have  been 
shackled  with  notes  on  any  account.  It  seemed  as  if  my 
mouth  was  filled  with  arguments  suited  to  the  tone  of  feel- 
ing then  excited  in  the  people.  There  was  weeping  through- 
out the  house,  and  a  solemn  awe  seemed  to  rest  upon  the 
people."*  His  manner  had  not,  at  this  period,  so  far  as  I 
can  learn,  the  polish  it  subsequently  acquired.  He  was  oft- 
en too  loud  and  violent.  His  style  was  sufficiently  correct 
for  an  extemporaneous  preacher  to  meet  the  demands  of 
good  taste,  yet  there  was  no  such  studied  attention  to  the 
minor  elegances  as  indicate  an  undue  solicitude  to  please, 
and  thus  create  a  distrust  of  the  preacher's  sincerity  or  sin- 
gleness of  purpose.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  Mr.  Fisk's 
preaching  was 

"  Warm  from  the  heart,  and  faithful  to  its  fires." 
Of  his  reading  at  this  time  but  little  information  has  been 
received.  Practical  and  devotional  books,  however,  formed 
a  suitable  share  of  it.  This,  to  a  minister,  is  of  absolute 
importance,  since  his  preaching  and  conversation  must  be 
fashioned  by  his  habitual  reading  and  thinking.  The  prod- 
ucts of  the  mind  must  be  as  the  aliment  it  feeds  on.  Wes- 
ley and  Fletcher  he  read  a  great  deal,  and  never  lost  his  rel- 
ish for  them. 

In  private  life  Mr.  Fisk  always  possessed  great  power 
over  the  affections.  His  temper  was  singularly  kind  and 
sympathizing.  His  manners  were  easy,  affable,  and  ingra- 
tiating. If  he  erred  here,  it  was  by  a  familiarity  rather  too 
unreserved  and  indiscriminate.  He  has  himself  acknowl- 
edged that  he  suffered  some  embarrassment  from  this  cause, 
but  in  what  particular  way  or  to  what  extent  I  have  not 
been  informed.  He  was  habitually  grave  ;  yet  his  gravity 
was  softened  by  a  gentle  pleasantry,  a  peculiar  vein  of  deli- 
cate humour,  that  rendered  his  company  and  conversation 
always  attractive.  Hence  his  deep  piety  wore  an  aspect  of 
great  loveliness.  It  was  a  frequent  saying  among  the  young 
people,  "  If  I  could  be  such  a  Christian  as  Mr.  Fisk,  I  should 
like  to  be  religious." 

*  This  passage  was  callett  forth  by  a  previous  conversation,  in  which  Mr.  Fisk 
endeavoured  to  convince  Mr.  Taft  of  the  superior  effect  of  extemporaneous  over 
written  sermons. 


96 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


He  was  always  very  fond  of  children  ;  he  regarded  them 
as  the  lambs  of  Christ's  flock,  and  therefore  paid  them  par- 
ticular attention,  talked  much  to  them,  prayed  for  them,  and 
interested  himself  in  their  welfare.  As  a  natural  conse- 
quence, they  in  return  were  warmly  attached  to  him.  Some 
pleasing  illustrations  of  this  feature  in  his  character  have 
come  to  our  knowledge.  Take  the  following  as  a  specimen  : 
Mrs.  Goodwin  had  two  sons,  one  eight,  the  other  ten  years 
of  age.  Once,  when  Mr.  Fisk  visited  them  after  he  had  left 
Charlestown,  these  little  boys  might  have  been  seen  seated 
on  either  side  of  him,  each  holding  a  hand,  with  their  heads 
reclining  on  his  knee,  or  occasionally  looking  up  into  his  face 
for  a  word  or  a  smile  :  and  thus  they  remained  more  than 
an  hour.  Must  not  the  heart  have  possessed  unusual  quali- 
ties of  endearment  that  could  so  attract  the  youthful  affec- 
tions ? 


INDISPOSITION. 


97 


CHAPTER  V. 

Indisposition. — Letters. — Prosperity  of  Religion. — Resumes  Preaching. 

The  period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived  was  the  most 
painful  of  Mr.  Fisk's  ministry.  With  his  mental  activity 
and  urgency  of  feeling,  nothing  was  more  distressing  than 
idleness.  To  see  such  fields  of  usefulness  before  him,  ma- 
king their  demands  upon  human  exertion,  and  not  to  be  able 
to  open  his  mouth  for  God,  required  great  self-command. 
He  was  laid  aside  as  a  broken  vessel  unfit  for  use.  "  I  nev- 
er," he  says,  writing  to  a  friend  many  years  after,  "  I  never 
experienced  anything  more  trying  than  this.  To  be  recon- 
ciled to  be  nothing  ;  nay,  worse,  to  be  a  useless  burden  to 
my  friends  and  the  world,  was  an  extent  of  resignation 
which  not  only  brought  into  requisition  all  the  little  grace  I 
had,  but  forced  me  to  pray  earnestly  for  more."  Thus  the 
season  was  not  entirely  lost  to  him.  Though  excluded  from 
active  usefulness,  he  was  gaining  greater  knowledge  of  his 
own  heart,  greater  depth  and  maturity  of  character,  and  lay- 
ing up  wisdom  for  future  emergencies. 

He  spent  his  time  in  riding  on  horseback,  visiting  his 
friends,  reading,  writing,  and  talking,  as  his  strength  woulfl 
permit.  Study  he  could  not  for  some  time,  at  least  to  any 
great  amount ;  nor  engage  in  vocal  prayer,  even  at  the  fam- 
ily altar.  Yet  it  was  not  possible  for  such  a  man  to  be  use- 
less. He  preached  by  his  example ;  he  instructed  by  his 
conversation ;  he  enlightened  by  the  halo  of  piety  that  sur- 
rounded him.  The  atmosphere  he  breathed  impregnated 
other  spirits ;  while  he  was  blessed,  he  was  likewise  blessing. 

Meantime,  he  could  instruct  from  the  closet,  if  not  from 
the  pulpit ;  and  he  ascended  the  latter  again  in  a  few 
months,  but  very  cautiously.  The  following  letters  are  spe- 
cimens of  the  instructions  afforded  by  him  at  this  season. 
The  first  was  written  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Palmer,  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  home.  She  was  in  feeble  health,  and  somewhat 
depressed  in  mind  in  reference  to  her  spiritual  state : 
9  N 


98 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Lyndon,  June  30th,  1821. 
*  *  *  "  Had  it  not  been  for  my  poor  health,  I  should 
have  written  to  you  before  ;  but  it  injures  me  to  write,  and 
I  do  as  little  of  it  as  I  can.  Hearing,  however,  of  your  de- 
clining health,  I  cannot  delay  to  write,  especially  as  Marcia 
mentions  that  you  have  some  clouds  and  doubts  upon  your 
mind  ;  and  I  would  by  no  means  be  backward  at  such  a 
time  to  comfort,  as  far  as  I  am  able,  the  desponding.  I 
pray,  indeed,  for  your  health  and  life,  if  this  may  be  for  the 
best ;  but  these,  compared  with  the  health  and  life  of  the 
soul,  are  trifles.  Let  me  say  to  you,  then,  my  dear  aunt, 
make  Christ  your  all.  Satan  never  fails,  in  time  of  ill  health, 
especially  if  that  illness  threatens  death,  to  do  his  utmost 
to  harass  and  torment  the  pious  mind.  The  soul  feels  the 
force  of  these  temptations,  and  it  begins  to  look  around  for 
relief ;  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  nevertheless  a 
truth,  that  persons  of  long  Christian  experience  too  frequent- 
ly, at  such  times,  begin  to  look  upon  wrong  objects.  And 
this,  instead  of  relieving  them,  serves  but  to  increase  their 
distress.  They  look,  perhaps,  upon  their  past  experience. 
'  Perhaps  I  am  deceived.'  '  Did  I  ever  experience  a 
change  V  They  look,  perhaps,  upon  their  own  unworthi- 
ness  :  '  Shall  I  ever  get  to  Heaven  V  But  what  are  all 
these  things  to  the  soul  at  such  a  time  ?  What  is  it  to  the 
soul  now,  whether  it  has  or  has  not,  at  some  former  period, 
tasted  that  the  Lord  was  gracious  ?  If  it  has,  and  has  not 
the  present  witness,  it  will  not  satisfy.  Not  a  past  intervievj, 
but  a  present  union,  will  satisfy  the  mind  at  this  time.  Nei- 
ther will  it  give  a  person  any  right  to  claim  blessings  now, 
because  they  have  been  blessed  once  ;  but,  while  mercy  may 
be  found,  the  soul,  in  any  state,  may  claim  it  for  Christ* s 
sake.  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever,  pro- 
fessor or  non-professor ;  those  who  have  been  once  renewed, 
and  those  who  were  never  renewed  ;  Jew  or  Gentile,  bar- 
barian or  Scythian  ;  worthy  in  their  own  estimation,  or  un- 
worthy ;  rich  or  poor,  sick  or  well,  all  must  come  to  Christ 
in  the  same  manner  ;  and  as  it  respects  their  rights,  are  on 
an  equality,  only  with  this  exception :  those  who  see  them- 


LETTERS. 


99 


selves  the  most  wretched,  their  case  the  most  difficult,  them- 
selves the  most  unworthy,  their  wants  the  most  pressing, 
have  the  best  claim,  and  are  the  fittest  vessels  for  the  Sav- 
iour to  show  his  mercy  in.  Dear  aunt,  let  me  exhort  you 
again  to  take  Christ  for  your  all.  Take  him  for  your  worthi- 
ness ;  take  him  for  your  righteousness ;  take,  O  take  him 
for  your  sanctification.  Perhaps  you  have  been  looking 
within,  and  have  said,  All  is  not  pure,  therefore  I  cannot 
enter  into  the  New  Jerusalem.  Indeed,  you  cannot  if  im- 
pure ;  but  Christ  will  cleanse  you,  and  now  he  waits  to  do 
the  work.  Only  believe,  and  you  shall  by  experience  know 
what  that  meaneth  :  '  I  will  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  clean.'  O  that  God  would  be  with  you  in 
every  trial,  and  support  you  in  sickness  or  health,  living  or 
dying.    For  this  you  shall  have  my  prayers." 

"Craftsbury,  August  6th,  1821. 
"  To  Miss  Peck. — My  very  dear  'Friend, 

"  I  should  have  answered  your  last  before  this,  but  I  was 
absent  from  home  when  it  arrived,  and  I  did  not  receive  it 
until  a  few  days  since.  During  this  time  I  have  been  much 
engaged,  and  have  not  had  a  convenient  opportunity  to 
write  till  now.  I  have  been  for  two  weeks  on  this  (Crafts- 
bury)  circuit,  visiting  those  children  that  the  Lord  gave  me 
as  the  first  fruits  of  my  ministry.  I  have  found  it  profitable 
to  body  and  soul :  to  my  body — for  the  exercise  of  riding, 
together  with  change  of  scene  and  pleasant  conversation 
with  my  friends,  gives  that  tone  to  the  body  and  mind  which 
is  very  conducive  to  health  ;  insomuch  that  my  symptoms 
are  more  favourable,  and  my  lungs  much  stronger  than  they 
were  :  to  my  soul — for  I  am  much  encouraged,  and  my 
faith  strengthened,  to  see  that  a  goodly  number  of  those  who 
professed  faith  in  Christ  three  years  ago  are  not  only  stead- 
fast, but  growing  Christians.  O,  how  do  I  feel  obliged  to 
give  myself  anew  to  God  !  He  has  called  me,  as  I  believe, 
to  the  ministry  ;  he  has  blessed  my  feeble  labours ;  he  has 
spared  my  life  ;  he  has  raised  me  from  a  bed  of  sickness ; 
he  has  permitted  me  once  more  to  visit  my  friends  and  Chris- 
tian brethren  here,  and  rejoice  with  them  in  the  hope  of  a 


100 


LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 


future  Heaven.  If  I  am  not  faithful,  if  I  do  not  give  myself 
wholly  to  God,  I  am,  of  all  others,  the  most  culpable. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  your  health  is  still  feeble,  but 
rejoice  to  learn  that  you  are  so  well  resigned  to  the  dispen- 
sations of  Providence.  My  daily  prayer  is,  that  God  would 
fit  us  both  for  all  his  will,  and  make  us  all  he  would  have 
us  be"  *  *  *  "  I  thank  God  that  for  a  number  of  weeks 
my  mind  has  been  free  and  easy.  My  future  destiny,  my 
duties,  my  sufferings,  my  life,  my  death,  my  joys,  my  sor- 
rows, are  all  with  Him ;  and  there  I  rest  them.  If  I  can 
but  enjoy  a  present  evidence  that  God,  through  Christ,  owns 
me,  it  is  enough.  I  know  it  is  difficult  to  overcome  our  feel- 
ings ;  but,  through  Christ  strengthening  us,  it  is  possible,  and 
he  will  help  you  to  look,  not  to  the  things  that  are  seen,  but 
to  the  things  that  are  unseen  and  eternal.  Our  separation 
may  be  shorter  than  we  are  aware  ;  perhaps  we  are  soon  to 
meet  in  a  better  world,  if  not  in  this.  In  all  events,  if  Christ 
be  our  portion,  all  will  be  well ;  for  '  if  we  suffer  with  him, 
we  shall  also  reign  with  him  ;'  and  it  is  my  constant  pray- 
er that  you  may  be  blessed  with  every  needed  grace. 

"Your  ideas  of  holiness,  as  held  and  experienced  by  Fletch- 
er and  Mrs.  Rogers,  I  believe,  are  correct.  It  is  the  life  of 
God  in  the  soul,  pervading  every  part,  animating  every  fac- 
ulty, engaging  every  affection  ;  and  this  life  is,  through  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ,  our  righteousness  and  our  sanctification; 
'  for  he  is  made  of  God,  unto  us,  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification,  and  redemption.'  Thanks  be  to  God  for  his 
unspeakable  gift  !  A  gift  that  is  not  laid  by  out  of  reach, 
or  reserved  for  those  who  receive  it  without  an  earnest,  but 
a  gift  that  is  influential,  operative,  effectual  'to  the  pulling 
down  the  strongholds  of  Satan  in  the  heart,  casting  down 
imaginations,  and  every  high  thing  that  exalteth  itself  against 
the  knowledge  of  God,  and  bringing  into  captivity  every 
thought  to  the  obedience  of  Chirst.'  May  we,  my  dear,  lay 
hold  of  this  gift  by  faith  ;  may  faith  keep  its  hold  by  loving 
obedience,  until  it  purify  the  heart  and  fit  us  for  heaven." 

The  following  acknowledgment  of  obligation  for  profes- 
sional services  was  addressed  to  the  physician  who  attended 
him  during  his  illness  in  Charlestown  : 


LETTER  TO  A  PHYSICIAN. 


101 


"  Lyndon,  Nov.  20th,  1821. 

"Dear  Sir, 

"  The  great  haste  I  was  in  to  make  my  arrangements  with 
all  possible  despatch  to  return  to  Vermont,  prevented  my 
seeing  you  before  I  left  Charlestown.  Indeed,  I  called  at 
your  house  once  after  my  recovery,  but  you  were  absent. 
My  intention  was  to  make  my  personal  acknowledgments  to 
you  for  your  attention  and  services  to  me,  which,  indeed,  is 
but  a  small  return,  considering  the  extent  of  the  favour  con- 
ferred. It  is  the  least  I  can  do,  and  I  am  willing  to  do  any- 
thing more  that  is  in  my  power,  and  that  you  will  receive. 
Pecuniary  satisfaction  you  have  heretofore  refused ;  and 
as  for  professional  returns,  since  you  do  not  believe  in  my 
divinity,  I  can  do  nothing  in  that  line  that  will  be  deemed 
of  any  service.  My  prescriptions  for  your  soul,  when  pla- 
ced as  an  offset  against  your  prescriptions  for  my  body,  will 
hardly  be  considered,  I  suppose,  a  quid  pro  quo.  Never- 
theless, if  you  believe  me  sincere  in  my  religion,  you  can- 
not wonder  if  I  am  anxious  that  you  should  become  a  be- 
liever in  it.  Indeed,  sir,  I  would  at  least  take  as  much  pains, 
not  to  say  more,  as  you  have  taken  to  attend  upon  me,  if  I 
could  be  instrumentally  serviceable  to  your  soul,  as  you  have 
been  to  my  body. 

"If,  as  you  believe,  there  is  nothing  in  experimental  reli- 
gion ;  if  the  soul  is  but  the  action  of  the  body  ;  if  the  former 
ceases  when  the  latter  dies,  and  there  is  nothing  after,  then, 
indeed,  I  mistake,  but  lose  nothing  ;  your  mistaken  patient 
will  in  the  end  fare  as  well  as  his  more  knowing  physician. 
But  ah !  dreary  thought !  under  such  a  system,  poor  is  the  best. 
Better,  indeed,  to  live  in  the  delusive  hope  of  a  happy  hereaf- 
ter, than  to  be  under  the  constant  dread  of  falling  into  naught. 
But  if  my  system  be  true  ;  if  the  soul  is  to  exist  after  the  dis- 
solution of  this  body  ;  if  it  is  by  nature  corrupt,  and  needs 
cleansing;  diseased,  and  needs  healing;  depraved,  and  needs 
renewing,  in  order  to  qualify  it  for  enjoyment  hereafter;  if 
this  cleansing,  healing,  and  renewing  are  to  be  realized  in 
a  course  of  virtuous  seeking  and  striving,  by  forsaking  sin, 
by  renouncing  our  own  vainly-conceited  systems,  and  hum- 
9* 


102 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


bling  ourselves  at  the  feet  of  the  Saviour,  then  the  real 
Christian  has  prospects  indescribably  bright,  immeasurably 
glorious ;  but  yours,  dear  sir,  are  colder  and  darker  than 
dreary  annihilation  itself.  But  I  did  not  design,  when  I 
began,  to  preach  a  sermon  ;  I  have  been  led  thus  far  from 
the  fulness  of  a  heart  that  is  not  insensible  to  favours  con- 
ferred, and  that  would  gladly  seek  what  it  deems  the  high- 
est interest  and  welfare  of  its  benefactor.  But,  to  say  no 
more  on  this  subject,  I  have  one  favour,  Doctor,  to  ask  of 
you,  in  addition  to  the  many  that  I  have  already  received : 
I  hope  you  will  not  deny  me.  It  is,  that  you  will  procure 
and  read  a  work  written  by  Berkeley,  called  The  Minute 
Philosopher.  I  am  sure  you  will  be  entertained  with  the 
book,  if  you  are  not  instructed.  I  do  not  recommend  it  to 
you  under  the  idea  that  your  sentiments  are  the  same  with 
many  that  are  there  examined ;  but  the  same  course  of 
reasoning  which  persons  of  your  sentiments  pursue,  is  there 
pursued  and  answered,  I  think,  satisfactorily.  Do  read  it  if 
you  can  obtain  it :  if  I  were  in  Boston  I  would  try  to  obtain 
it  for  you. 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  you,  but  will  not  make 
such  a  demand  upon  your  time  or  attention  as  to  ask  you  to 
write.  Perhaps  I  owe  you  an  apology  for  detaining  you  so 
long  with  this. 

"  Remember  me,  if  you  please,  to  Mrs.  B.,  and  to  her 
mother's  family  if  you  see  them. 

"  As  I  believe  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer,  I  shall  not  forget 
to  ask  our  common  Father  to  reward  you  a  hundred  fold  in 
this  world  for  all  your  kind  attentions  to  me  ;  to  lead  you 
into  all  truth ;  to  give  you  all  the  qualifications  necessary  to 
make  you  meet  to  be  a  partaker  of  the  inheritance  with  the 
saints  in  light.  In  the  mean  time  I  subscribe  myself, 
"  Sir,  your  sincere  and  greatly  obliged  friend, 

"  W.  Fisk. 

In  the  month  of  October  (1821)  he  paid  a  visit  to  Provi- 
dence, where  he  spent  some  days  in  company  with  Miss 
Peck.    Returning,  he  visited  his  friends  in  Charlestown  and 


LIBERALITY.  HEALTH. 


103 


Boston,  and  was  much  delighted  in  the  latter  city  at  finding  a 
very  happy  revival  of  religion  in  progress.  On  his  return  he 
tarried  a  short  time  in  his  native  town,  and  formed  an  agree- 
able acquaintance  with  the  Episcopal  clergyman  of  Guild- 
ford, from  whom  he  received  an  urgent  invitation  to  preach 
in  his  church  ;  but  circumstances  did  not  allow  it.  He  also 
mentions  reading  Bishop  Hobart's  address  to  the  clergy  of 
his  diocese,  with  which  he  was  much  pleased.  These  little 
things  are  mentioned  only  to  show  his  liberality  of  mind,  and 
the  readiness  with  which  he  saw  and  admired  whatever  was 
good  in  others,  though  he  did  not  in  all  things  agree  with  them. 
He  arrived  at  his  paternal  home  in  good  spirits,  and  some- 
what improved  by  his  jaunt. 

His  state  and  prospects  during  the  winter  are  shown  in  a 
letter  to  Miss  Peck,  dated  January  25,  1822  : 

"  My  Dear  Friend, 

"  You  have  probably  heard  from  me  twice  since  I  last 
wrote,  by  the  letters  that  I  wrote  to  Brothers  Rogers  and 
Taft.  From  them  you  have  learned  that  my  health  contin- 
ues much  as  usual ;  on  the  whole,  rather  better  than  it  was 
last  summer  and  autumn.  It  continues  much  the  same  still, 
except  that  the  extreme  cold  weather  has  increased  my 
cough.  If  I  stand  it  through  March  without  a  return  of  the 
bleeding,  I  shall  hope  to  regain  my  former  state  of  health ; 
but  such  is  the  nature  of  my  complaint,  and  it  has  been  of 
so  long  standing,  that  I  have  no  hope  that  I  shall  ever  be  an 
effective  man  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  I  am  aware  that 
I  shall  always  need  much  care  over  myself,  and  always  be 
under  the  necessity  of  paying  much  attention  to  this  frail 
body.  I  have  a  hope,  however,  that  I  shall  not  be  altogether 
useless  in  the  Church,  with  all  my  infirmities  ;  but  in  what 
way  the  Lord,  in  his  providence,  will  see  fit  to  employ  me, 
if  he  spare  my  life,  I  have  yet  to  learn.  The  employment 
and  station  suited  to  my  present  state  are  such  as  I  am  now 
in  :  a  comfortable  home,  with  liberty  to  divide  my  time,  ac- 
cording to  health,  weather,  and  other  circumstances,  in  visit- 
ing my  friends,  preaching,  reading,  and  writing ;  but  what 
my  brethren  will  think  about  my  continuing  with  them,  al- 


104 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


most  as  an  encumbrance,  without  rendering  them  much  as- 
sistance, I  know  not.  I  may  now  be  considered  as  a  drone 
bee,  that  helps  to  consume  the  honey,  but  gathers  none. 
And  perhaps  my  more  efficient  and  industrious  brethren 
may  think  I  had  better  leave  the  hive,  especially  if  there  is 
not  a  prospect  of  my  becoming  more  useful  soon.  However, 
for  myself,  I  borrow  no  anxieties  about  the  future.  I  feel 
perfectly  confident  that  the  God  I  serve,  if  I  am  faithful  to 
him,  will  go  before  me  to  direct  my  way.  I  only  mention 
these  things,  because  I  think  you  may  wish  to  know  my 
thoughts  and  prospects.  For  your  sake,  I  would  be  glad  to 
state  something  more  definite  or  more  encouraging.  You 
see,  my  dear,  we  are  still  called  upon  to  live  by  faith  ;  but 
we  do  know  that  He  in  whom  we  trust  is  faithful,  and  that 
all  things  shall  work  together  for  good — our  eternal  good. 
I  know  that  your  feelings  would  not,  any  more  than  mine, 
permit  you  willingly  to  increase  the  burden  of  the  Church, 
and  therefore  we  will  cheerfully  wait  the  openings  of  Prov- 
idence. Indeed,  I  am  becoming  more  and  more  established 
in  that  important  doctrine  :  it  calms  every  anxious  feeling. 
Think  of  it  much,  my  dear  R. ;  it  will  be  useful  to  you 
through  life,  under  all  circumstances. 

"  May  the  grace  of  God  dwell  in  you  richly,  and  direct 
you  in  all  things,  is  the  prayer  of  your  unworthy  but  sin- 
cerely affectionate  W.  Fisk." 

The  next  epistle  was  addressed  to  two  young  ladies — sis- 
ters— of  his  recent  charge  : 

"I  beg  the  privilege  of  answering  your  letters  in  one,  as 
what  I  wish  to  communicate  to  each  of  you  will  be  general- 
ly the  same.  And  first  of  all,  permit  me  to  express  the  sat- 
isfaction I  feel  in  learning  from  yourselves  that  you  are  still 
engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Lord.  ' I  have  no  greater  joy 
than  to  hear  that  my  children  walk  in  truth.' — (3  John,  4.) 
And  this  is  particularly  gratifying  to  me  in  my  present  sit- 
uation. Laid  by,  as  I  measurably  am,  from  active  service 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  with  but  a  small  prospect  of 
ever  being  able  to  labour  as  I  have  done,  what  would  be  my 


CHRISTIAN  ADVICE. 


105 


pain  if  I  saw  the  few  plants  which  I  have,  through  grace, 
been  instrumental  in  planting,  withering  and  dying  ?  On 
the  other  hand,  if  I  see  them  standing  fast,  growing  and 
bearing  fruit,  proportionably  great  will  be  my  joy.  Such, 
my  dear  sisters,  is  the  joy  in  you  and  others  of  the  little  soci- 
ety in  Charlestown.  This  joy  is  increased  when  I  hear  you 
express,  as  you  have  done  in  your  letters,  a  desire  for  full 
redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  What  shall  I  say  to  you 
to  assist  you  in  this  good  work  ?  Can  I  say  anything  that  I 
have  not  said  ?  I  have  said  to  you,  scores  of  times,  believe, 
and  the  blessing  is  yours. 

"  1.  Believe  that  it  is  attainable  :  and,  when  you  get  this 
degree  of  faith,  fix  your  mind  there.  After  being  convinced 
that  this  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Bible,  do  not  suffer  the  enemy 
to  come  in  at  the  time  you  are  struggling  for  full  redemption, 
and  disconcert  your  mind  by  suggesting,  '  perhaps  there  is 
no  such  blessing  attainable  !'  Be  assured  much  is  lost  by 
our  not  holding  all  we  gain.  What  doth  it  profit  if  we 
gain  half  our  object,  and  then,  while  we  are  thinking  of  the 
other  half,  lose  all  we  have  gained  ?  Yet  this  is  the  way 
that  too  many  are  in  who  are  seeking  to  i  perfect  holiness 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.'  The  devil  quarrels  all  away  from 
them  that  they  gain,  and  then  they  have  to  begin  anew  ;  and 
perhaps  a  number  of  times,  in  the  course  of  their  experience, 
they  have  to  begin  back  to  the  first  principles  of  the  doctrine 
of  sanctification,  and  learn  that  such  a  blessing  is  attainable. 
But  let  us,  in  our  Christian  experience,  adopt  the  miser's  max- 
im :  '  Keep  what  you  get,  and  get  what  you  can.'  Fasten 
everything  as  you  go.  When  you  have  gained  one  foot  of 
ground,  suffer  not  your  enemy  to  flatter  you  out  of  it,  nor 
reason  you  out  of  it,  nor  frighten  you  out  of  it.  If  you  take 
this  course  you  will  constantly  gain  something  ;  and,  though 
you  have  to  contend  for  your  ground  inch  by  inch,  yet  all 
you  gain  will  be  yours. 

"  2.  You  must  not  only  believe  there  is  such  a  blessing, 
but  also  believe  it  is  for  you.  The  tempter  would  make  you 
believe,  if  he  could,  that  your  God  is  a  partial  God  ;  that 
he  has  a  few  choice  blessings,  which  he  confers  upon  indi- 
viduals— preachers,  perhaps,  and  a  few  others — but  they  can- 

O 


106 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


not  be  obtained  by  all.  But  believe  him  not ;  he  is  dis- 
honouring your  God  by  such  a  suggestion. 

"  3.  If  your  case  seems  the  most  difficult  of  any — if  it 
seems  almost  impossible  that  such  unholy  and  sinful  hearts 
as  yours  can  be  made  holy — believe  that,  the  more  difficult 
the  case,  the  more  ready  the  great  Physician  is  to  offer  his 
assistance,  the  more  will  he  be  glorified  and  his  grace  mag- 
nified in  your  cause.  The  Lord  Jesus  delights  to  search 
out  and  afford  assistance  to  the  greatest  sinners.  Is  there  a 
woman  that  has  spent  all  her  substance  with  physicians,  and 
finds  no  relief?  is  there  an  impotent  man,  that  hath  lain  a 
long  time  at  the  pool,  and  not  been  healed  ?  is  there  a  Mag- 
dalen that  has  seven  devils  ? — these  are  the  very  cases  that 
our  Lord  relieves. 

"  I  might  go  on  with  my  instructions,  but,  to  say  all  in  a 
few  words,  go  to  Christ ;  take  him  for  your  sanctificaiion 
and  your  all.  And  permit  me  to  add  one  word  of  caution : 
While  you  are  striving  for  more  victory,  while  you  are  pant- 
ing for  all  the  fulness  of  God,  do  not  suppose  that  nothing  is 
to  be  enjoyed  and  nothing  can  be  done  till  you  receive  all 
that  you  are  seeking  for.  Many  in  this  way  have  laboured, 
and  toiled,  and  took  no  spiritual  refreshments  until  they  have 
sunk  under  their  exertions,  and  for  a  time  given  over  their 
pursuit ;  but,  seeing  their  need,  they  have  started  again, 
and  again  exhausted  themselves  and  given  over  their  pur- 
suit, and  perhaps  given  up  the  object  altogether.  At  any 
rate,  they  do  not  gain  so  much  ground  as  if  they  fed  them- 
selves as  they  went  along.  Saul,  at  a  certain  time,  in  his 
eagerness  to  destroy  his  enemies,  prohibited  the  people  from 
eating,  that  they  might  have  the  more  time  to  destroy  their 
foes ;  but  the  people,  in  consequence,  became  faint,  and  the 
victory  was  not  so  great  as  if  they  had  eaten  freely. — (See  1 
Sam.,  xiv.,  24,  28,  29,  30.)  But  be  ye  not  like  them.  God 
has  laid  no  such  prohibition  upon  you.  If,  as  you  pursue 
your  spiritual  foe,  the  trees  of  grace  around  you  are  drop- 
ping with  honey,  you  may  not  only  take  a  morsel  on  the  end 
of  your  rod,  but  eat  freely,  till  your  soul  is  satisfied  ;  and 
then,  not  only  will  your  eyes  be  enlightened,  but  your  souls 
will  be  strengthened  to  pursue  your  enemies  till  all  are  slain. 


STATE  OF  HEALTH. 


107 


Fight  on  and  rejoice  on.  While  contending  for  more 
ground,  cultivate  what  you  have  got.  This  is  the  way  to 
make  your  exertions  constant  and  your  warfare  joyous.  O 
what  a  glorious  combat  is  this !    We  triumph  while  we  fight." 

"  March  14. 

"  To  Mrs.  Goodwin. 

"  I  know  of  nothing  very  important  to  communicate  to 
you  ;  but,  as  you  and  your  daughters  have  manifested  such 
a  deep  interest  in  my  welfare,  perhaps  the  old  dull  and  un- 
interesting subject,  self,  may  not  be  altogether  such  to  you 
and  yours,  especially  if  he  be  not  put  forward  too  much,  and 
kept  upon  the  stage  too  long.  To  begin,  then,  with  the 
body  ;  in  its  outward  appearance,  it  is  much  as  when  you  saw 
it ;  also  in  its  strength  and  activity  (or,  rather,  weakness  and 
inactivity)  much  the  same.  It  is  but  a  weak  and  tottering 
cottage,  in  which  the  immortal  inhabitant  tabernacles  for  a 
few  days.  She  hopes  for,  and  talks  of  a  better  house.  And 
were  it  not  for  the  weakness  of  her  faith,  and  a  sense  of 
her  own  unworthiness  and  sinfulness ;  were  it  not  that  she 
has  not  yet  obtained  leave  of  her  Lord  to  enter  into  the 
heavenly  mansions,  the  spirit  would  ere  this  have  made  her 
escape  through  some  of  the  chinks  and  openings  of  this 
earthly  cottage,  '  to  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens.'  As  it  is,  much  of  my  time  and  attention 
are  taken  up  in  propping  up  the  shattered  building  ;  not  un- 
like (as  I  have  often  thought)  the  manner  in  which  I  have 
frequently  seen  the  Vermont  peasant  support  with  shores 
and  props  his  log  cottage,  that  otherwise  would  fall  and 
crush  its  inhabitants.  But  when  he  has  done  all,  he  has  at 
best  but  a  dangerous,  inconvenient,  and  unlovely  dwelling. 
So  with  me :  yet  I  murmur  not ;  for  my  blessed  Lord  has 
given  the  promise  that  he  {  will  change  this  vile  body,  and 
fashion  it  like  unto  his  most  glorious  body.'' 

"  '  In  hope  of  that  immortal  crown, 
I  now  the  cross  sustain, 
And  gladly  wander  up  and  down, 
And  smile  at  toil  and  pain.' 

See  the  whole  hymn  in  our  collection,  page  481.  Tell  your 
daughters  I  know  a  sweet  tune  to  the  hymn,  and  hope  I 


108 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


shall  one  day  have  the  pleasure  of  singing  it  to  them.  I 
often  sing  it  till  my  soul  is  fired  with  the  sentiment  it  con- 
tains. Every  line  is  full  of  meaning,  and  full  of  an  antici- 
pated Heaven.  But  I  perceive,  in  giving  you  an  account  of 
the  body,  I  have  imperceptibly  slid  into  some  account  of  the 
soul  ;  and  no  wonder,  for  the  soul  is  the  most  valuable  ; 
and  but  for  this,  the  body  would  be  worth  nothing.  And 
were  it  not  that  the  soul  needs  some  kind  of  a  dwelling  du- 
ring its  temporary  stay  here  ;  and  were  it  not  that  this  body, 
refined  and  immortalized,  is  to  be  the  companion  of  the  soul 
hereafter,  I  would  never  more  talk  or  think  about  it ;  but 
as  it  is,  I  think  considerably  of  the  body.  Is  the  body  here 
the  medium  and  occasion  of  pain  ?  Ah  !  says  faith,  it  shall 
be  the  medium  and  occasion  of  happiness  hereafter  ;  and  for 
your  light  pains  on  earth  you  shall  have  great  degrees  of 
happiness  in  heaven  ;  and  I  believe  happiness  will  be  much 
more  perfect,  in  consequence  of  the  reunion  of  soul  and 
body,  than  it  otherwise  would  be.  Is  the  body  here  a  me- 
dium of  temptations  ?  Hereafter  all  its  spiritualized  senses 
shall  be  so  many  additional  inlets  of  joy.  Does  the  body 
here  weigh  down  and  clog  the  soul  ?  There  it  shall  be  a 
light,  buoyant  vehicle,  which,  without  touching  the  pave- 
ment of  heaven,  shall  bear  the  soul  swift  as  angels  fly,  and 
without  weariness,  through  all  the  endless  variety  of  the  par- 
adise of  God.  I  need  your  indulgence.  I  begin  to  speak 
of  the  body,  and  I  talk  of  the  soul ;  I  begin  to  speak  of  the 
soul,  and  I  talk  of  the  body  ;  and  I  probably  have  spoken 
of  both  much  longer  than  I  ought.  Jesus  Christ  is  a  better 
theme.  Let  me  say,  then,  all  that  I  have  of  bodily  health 
and  comforts  I  derive  from  Jesus  the  Creator  and  preserver ; 
all  I  have  of  spiritual  health  and  comforts  I  derive  from  Je- 
sus the  Redeemer ;  all  my  hopes  for  body  or  soul  hereafter 
I  derive  from  him.  He  is  the  sinner's  friend,  therefore  he 
is  my  friend.  '  He  of  God  is  made  unto  the  believer  wis- 
dom, righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption.'  1  Lord, 
I  believe  :  help  thou  my  unbelief!'  " 

The  period  of  Mr.  Fisk's  indisposition  was  one  of  great 
prosperity  in  the  cause  of  religion  throughout  his  vicinity. 


STATE  OF  RELIGION. 


109 


The  ministers  of  our  own  Church,  though  not  generally  men 
of  finished  education,  were  men  of  sound  minds,  good  nat- 
ural parts,  of  great  decision  and  force  of  character,  and 
deeply  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  their  station.  Their  indus- 
try was  indefatigable.  They  constantly  preached  for  the 
conversion  of  sinners  and  sanctification  of  believers  ;  always 
expected  fruit,  and  were  unhappy  without  it.  According  to 
the  language  of  our  Discipline,  they  considered  "  fruit"  as  a 
test  of  their  call  to  the  ministry.  Hence  their  constant 
prayer  was,  "  Give  me  children,  or  else  I  die."  In  this 
spirit  each  one  went  through  the  country  like  a  flaming 
torch,  carrying  light  and  heat  into  every  neighbourhood  ; 
and  their  success  bore  a  good  proportion  to  their  labour. 
To  this  the  state  of  the  country  was  not  entirely  unfavoura- 
ble. The  people  had  been  accustomed  to  a  dry,  cold,  life- 
less ministry,  and  a  M  form  of  godliness"  without  the  power, 
which  held  no  place  in  the  affections,  and  exercised  but  little 
control  over  their  consciences.  Their  prejudices,  it  is  true, 
were  very  strong ;  but,  as  they  heard  for  themselves,  these 
gradually  yielded  before  the  power  of  reason.  The  truth 
took  hold  of  their  hearts,  and  spread  from  one  to  another, 
and  from  village  to  village,  and  town  to  town,  until  the  re- 
gion all  around  was  in  a  blaze.  Other  denominations  also 
caught  the  like  spirit,  so  that  the  improvement  in  the  reli- 
gious condition  was  truly  astonishing. 

These  were  gratifying  and  trying  seasons  to  Mr.  Fisk  : 
gratifying  to  his  contemplations,  but  trying  because  not  al- 
lowed to  participate  in  the  work.  He  was  like  a  caged  lion 
in  a  forest  abounding  with  game,  or  a  disabled  war-horse 
neighing  at  the  sound  of  the  battle.  Hear  his  own  language  : 
"  Sometimes  I  am  almost  ready  to  rise  up  like  Samson, 
who,  when  shorn  of  his  strength,  went  out  to  shake  himself 
as  at  other  times,  for  he  wist  not  that  his  strength  had  de- 
parted from  him  ;  but  I  soon  learn  my  weakness,  and  sit 
down  measurably  reconciled  that  God  should  send  by  whom 
he  will."  And  how  deeply  his  affections  were  embarked  in 
this  work  may  be  farther  seen  by  the  following  extract  from 
a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Filmore  :  "  My  health  is,  on  the 
whole,  better  since  the  opening  of  the  spring.  Perhaps  the 
10 


110 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


coming  year  I  may  be  able  to  do  something  ;  but  I  can  as- 
sure you  I  form  but  a  very  weak  spoke  in  our  itinerating 
machine.  The  machine  itself,  however,  must  move  on,  and 
will  move  on.  I  am  as  great  an  advocate  for  this  as  ever  ; 
indeed,  the  more  I  see  of  it,  the  more  I  am  convinced  of  its 
utility.  This  machine,  if  we,  as  a  Church,  live  religion,  will 
roll  throughout  our  country  till  it  breaks  down  all  opposition. 
May  the  Lord  go  before  it,  a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and  of 
fire  by  night.    If  I  cannot  move  with  it,  I  can  pray  for  it." 

He  was  not  entirely  inactive,  however ;  for,  as  appears  by 
the  subjoined  letter  to  Mrs.  Goodwin,  he  had  again  ventured 
into  the  pulpit : 

"May  25th,  1822. 

"  I  sit  down  late  on  Saturday  afternoon  to  answer  the  last 
from  you,  which  I  do  at  this  time  more  particularly,  be- 
cause, after  preaching  to  our  good  folks  in  L.  to-morrow,  I 
purpose  to  set  out  the  next  day  to  visit  some  new  towns  in 
our  northern  border  and  in  Lower  Canada,  which  will  oc- 
cupy all  my  spare  time  before  Conference.  I  must  there- 
fore write  now,  or  not  at  all.  My  object  in  the  above-men- 
tioned journey  is  to  examine  some  northern  towns,  where  we 
think  of  forming  a  new  circuit,  and  also  to  visit  two  or  three 
new  settlements  that  have  been  blessed  with  revivals  of  late, 
which  are  destitute  of  preaching  ;  especially  one,  which  con- 
tains about  twenty  families,  a  great  part  of  whom  have  be- 
come Christianized  (though  very  loose  before),  and  that,  too, 
without  any,  or  but  little  public  preaching.  I  also  expect  to 
take  in  my  tour  my  beloved  Craftsbury  Circuit,  and  visit 
once  more  before  Conference  the  children  the  Lord  has 
given  me  there.  Craftsbury  Society  and  Circuit  1  is  my 
first-born,  and  the  beginning  of  my  strength;  the  excellen- 
cy of  dignity,  and  the  excellency  of  power.'  My  second, 
Charlestown,  cost  me  more  tears  and  more  pains,  and  is  yet 
the  subject  of  greater  anxiety  ;  but  they  are  both  as  dear  to 
me  as  labours,  tears,  and  anxieties  on  my  part,  and  kind- 
nesses, and  dangers,  and  reciprocal  affection  on  theirs,  can 
make  them.  But  I  the  more  joyfully  visit  Craftsbury  Circuit 
now,  because  I  learn  that  one  town,  where  I  was  accustom- 


LETTER. 


Ill 


ed  to  preach,  and  where  all  my  public  and  private  labours 
appeared  to  be  fruitless,  is  beginning  to  yield.  A  cloud  of 
mercy  is  hanging  over,  and  a  few  gracious  drops  have  de- 
scended. I  fly  to  witness  the  wonder  that  even  Irasburg 
has  received  the  Gospel.  Lord,  let  it  spread  through  the 
town.  Indeed,  there  is  a  sound  of  abundance  of  rain  all 
around  these  regions.  I  have  just  returned  from  Concord, 
in  this  state,  where  the  Lord  is  carrying  on  a  gracious  work. 
Between  twenty  and  thirty  have  already  found  pardon,  and 
many  are  saying,  'What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?'  I  feel 
my  whole  soul  in  this  work,  but  my  body  is  in  no  work 
worth  mentioning.  It  is  as  good  a  body  as  I  deserve,  but  I 
assure  you  it  is  a  miserable  one  :  it  has  grown  no  better  since 
I  last  wrote.  Indeed,  my  health  has  been  poorer  for  three 
weeks  past  than  it  was  for  some  weeks  before  ;  but  I  feel 
that  I  am  the  Lord's,  soul  and  body.  I  forget  if  I  mention- 
ed in  my  last  that  we  are  to  hold  a  camp-meeting  in  Barre, 
to  commence  on  the  18th  of  June ;  after  which,  the  Lord 
willing,  Brother  Hoyt  and  myself  will  return  home  and  spend 
the  Sabbath,  and  then  start  for  Conference.  Our  Confer- 
ence to  us  (you  must  know)  is  more  than  the  feast  of  taber- 
nacles or  of  first-fruits  was  to  the  Jews.  Here  we  meet  from 
all  parts  of  the  work  to  tell  over  our  joys  and  our  sorrows, 
our  adversities  and  successes  during  the  past  year.  Brother 
meets  brother  with  '  How  have  you  been  ?  What  have  you 
witnessed  ?  How  is  your  part  of  Zion  prospering  ?'  Here 
one  finds  a  brother  from  his  old  circuit  or  station,  and  learns, 
in  answer  to  his  anxious  inquiries,  that  one  is  persevering  in 
grace,  another  has  backslidden,  and  another  has  gone  to 
Heaven.  We  talk  about  the  campaign  of  the  coming  year, 
rejoice  together  seven  or  eight  happy  days,  then  each  man 
takes  horse,  flies  to  his  post  to  labour,  to  suffer,  to  rejoice, 
perhaps  to  die.  But  what  then  ?  1  He  dies  in  the  field  of 
battle,'  and  goes  home  to  wear  a  crown  of  glory.  Blessed 
be  God  for  the  prospect  of  dying-  in  the  field  of  battle.  You 
recollect,  in  our  minutes  of  Conference,  we  have,  among  oth- 
ers, this  question :  '  Who  have  died  this  year  ?'  Then  fol- 
lows the  names  of  our  deceased  brethren.  In  this  catalogue, 
if  you  are  careful  to  read  it  over  year  after  year,  you  will 


112 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ere  long  read  the  name  of  your  much  obliged  friend,  "Will- 
bur  Fisk.  To  the  short  account  that  may  there  be  given, 
you  may  add  with  your  pencil  this  :  i  His  early  departure 
excited  in  his  breast  but  one  regret,  which  was,  that  he  had 
to  leave  the  war  before  the  cause  of  truth  obtained  a  general 
triumph ;'  yet  he  could  say,  1  Even  so,  Father ;  for  so  it 
seemed  good  in  thy  sight.'    Amen,  and  amen." 


EDUCATION. 


113 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Education. — Preaches  at  Brattleborough. — Dedication  Sermon  at  Danville. — Let- 
ters.— Marriage. 

We  havE  now  reached  the  period  at  which  Mr.  Fisk's  ef- 
forts were  to  be  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  education.  He  was 
well  qualified  to  appreciate  its  importance  ;  but,  like  most  of 
our  ministers,  he  had  been  too  fully  engrossed  with  other  still 
more  important  objects  to  make  any  personal  exertions  in  its 
behalf.  Nor,  indeed,  prior  to  this  era,  were  any  denomina- 
tional arrangements  with  a  view  to  it  demanded.  But,  as 
it  had  pleased  Heaven  to  increase  the  numbers,  wealth,  and 
other  resources  of  the  Church,  it  became  necessary  to  pro- 
vide for  the  education  of  her  children.  Providence  clearly 
opened  the  way  for  this  object  by  turning  the  heart  of  the 
Church  towards  it,  and  by  furnishing  men  and  means  to  car- 
ry on  the  enterprise. 

At  the  New-England  Conference  for  1822,  Mr.  Fisk  was 
ordained  elder  and  returned  superannuated.  He  was  re- 
quested, at  the  same  time,  by  the  Conference,  to  employ 
himself,  as  far  as  his  sttength  would  allow,  in  raising  funds 
to  aid  the  Academy  at  Newmarket  (N.  H.),  the  only  insti- 
tution of  the  kind  in  New-England  under  the  care  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  It  had  been  founded  only  a  few  years, 
and  was  dragging  along  a  feeble  and  sickly  existence  ;  but 
its  character  and  regulations — I  know  not  why — did  not 
meet  Mr.  Fisk's  approbation.  He  therefore  determined  to 
decline  the  employment,  unless  the  objectionable  features 
could  be  removed.  To  ascertain  whether  such  modification 
could  be  effected,  he  made  a  visit  of  observation  to  the  acad- 
emy ;  prior  to  which,  however,  he  spent  a  few  days  among 
his  friends  at  Providence. 

There  is  ground  for  supposing  that  Mr.  Fisk's  thoughts 
were  not  now  first  turned  to  the  subject  of  education.  He 
seems  to  have  contemplated  some  course  of  conduct  in  ref- 
10*  P 


114 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


erence  to  it ;  but  if  so,  it  was  very  important  to  his  success, 
whether  so  intended  or  not,  that  he  had  established  such  a 
character  for  piety  and  truly  Christian  zeal  as  had  placed  his 
motives  and  ulterior  views  beyond  suspicion.  He  had  gained, 
in  a  high  degree,  both  the  affections  of  the  Church  and  the 
confidence  of  the  public.  Some  light  is  thrown  on  these 
points  by  a  remark  which  he  made  in  a  conversation  between 
himself,  Miss  Peck,  and  Mr.  Taft.  On  giving  to  Miss  Peck 
the  reasons  why  he  could  not  encourage  the  Newmarket  in- 
stitution, he  added,  "  But  if  the  Lord  spare  my  life,  and  will 
give  me  influence,  with  his  blessing  the  Methodist  Church 
shall  not  want  academies  nor  colleges."  After  he  had  left 
the  room,  Mr.  Taft  remarked,  "  Mr.  Fisk,  if  he  live,  will  be 
a  president  or  a  bishop  ;  and  with  his  humility,  how  bright 
will  be  his  example  !"    The  sequel  honours  his  penetration. 

During  his  visit  at  Providence,  in  conversation  with  some 
friends,  Mr.  Fisk  advanced  the  following  views,  which,  be- 
cause they  are  alluded  to  in  the  subjoined  letter,  we  think 
it  proper  to  introduce.  The  subject  of  discussion  was  po- 
liteness. Mr.  Fisk  asserted  that  Lord  Chesterfield's  code  is 
little  more  than  a  system  of  dissimulation  or  polished  hypoc- 
risy ;  that  religion  is  the  only  firm  basis  of  true  politeness  ; 
and  that,  if  we  followed  more  closely  the  Saviour's  precepts, 
it  would  gradually  polish  a  rough  exterior :  he  remarked  that 
no  other  politeness  would  bear  the  scrutiny  of  Heaven.  He 
added,  "  I  may  be  peculiar  in  my  views,  but  I  always  think 
of  it  as  I  do  of  neatness,  that  the  want  of  it  is  incompatible 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel." 

From  Providence  Mr.  Fisk  made  a  tour  through  Massa- 
chusetts and  New-Hampshire,  visiting,  as  above  mentioned, 
the  academy  at  Newmarket.  His  mind  was  still  dissatis- 
fied with  the  state  of  the  institution,  and  he  therefore  deter- 
mined to  do  nothing  for  its  support.  He  proceeded  home- 
ward by  slow  journeys  and  a  circuitous  route,  and  on  reach- 
ing Walpole  addressed  to  his  friend  at  Providence  the  ensu- 
ing letter : 

"  August  30th,  1822. 

"  I  have  only  had  an  opportunity  to  write  you  a  hasty 
note  from  Marshfield  since  I  left  Providence  ;  and  although 


LETTER  TO  MISS  PECK  FROM  WALPOLE. 


115 


this  is  a  late  hour  (half  past  10  o'clock),  yet  it  is  a  good 
one,  and  I  eagerly  employ  it  to  write  to  you.  It  is  at  such 
a  time  as  this  that  my  mind  is  completely  itself.  All  is  si- 
lent around  me  save  the  music  of  the  cricket  in  the  wall, 
whose  plaintive  note  serves  only  to  sooth  the  mind,  and 
harmonize  the  softer  feelings  of  the  soul.  At  a  time  so  well 
suited  to  reflection,  you  can  judge  of  my  feelings.  Reflec- 
tion carries  me  back  to  past  days — scenes  that  will  never 
return.  The  thought  4  is,  like  the  memory  of  joys  that  are 
past,  pleasant  and  mournful  to  the  soul.'  Anticipation  looks 
forward  to  the  future  ;  and  here  I  should  be  pained  did  I  not 
believe  that  you,  as  well  as  myself,  can  put  your  trust  in  God. 

"  My  health  has  endured  my  journey  thus  far  as  well  as  I 
could  expect — perhaps,  on  the  whole,  better ;  and  I  some- 
times indulge  the  thought  that  God  may  yet  make  me  in  some 
degree  efficient  in  the  Church.  But  again  I  chide  myself  for 
indulging  it.  I  would  live  every  moment  by  faith.  When  I 
review  God's  past  providences  to  me,  I  am  constrained  to 
say,  Truly  I,  of  all  others,  ought  to  place  the  most  implicit 
trust  in  his  future  dispensations.  The  doctrine  of  Provi- 
dence is  to  me  a  precious  doctrine.  Here  I  can  rest  and  be 
at  ease,  for  God  will  do  all  things  well. 

"  Soon  after  I  parted  with  you,  I  left  Providence,  made  a 
short  stop  at  Marshfield,  Newmarket,  and  Charlestown, 
and  then  set  my  face  for  Vermont.  Notwithstanding,  I  fre- 
quently cast  a  longing,  lingering  look  behind  ;  yet  the  dri- 
ver and  his  horses  were  both  unconscious  of  it,  and  hurried 
me  on  with  such  rapidity,  that,  had  our  route  been  direct,  I 
might  have  indulged  the  thought  of  seeing  the  distant  hills 
of  Vermont  that  night.  But  this  pleasing  vision  I  was  obli- 
ged to  forego.  However,  before  I  arrived  at  Walpole  (where 
I  am  now  writing)  I  had  a  view  of  Vermont.  We  were 
ascending  a  pile  of  hills,  that  Nature,  in  some  of  her  romantic 
sports,  had  thrown  together  without  any  order,  when  we  ar- 
rived at  a  lofty  eminence,  where  we  had  a  prospect  as  exten- 
sive as  the  eye  could  compass.  My  attention,  you  will  read- 
ily conclude,  was  turned  towards  Vermont.  Below  was  a 
rich  valley,  through  which  ran  the  beautiful  Connecticut ; 
still  farther  were  seen,  scattered  upon  a  hundred  hills,  the 


116 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


numerous  settlements  of  the  Vermont  cottagers  ;  beyond  the 
whole,  the  Green  Mountains,  now  stopping  the  course  of  the 
clouds  with  their  lofty  summits,  now  subsiding  into  more 
passable  heights,  like  a  pillow  of  clouds  stretched  themselves 
from  north  to  south  as  far  as  the  eye  could  ken.  When  to 
this  grand  scenery  was  added  the  reflection  that  this  was 
6  my  own,  my  native'  state,  the  place  where  I  prattled  in 
infancy,  and  sported  in  childhood,  and  in  riper  years  learned 
to  love  all  that  was  lovely  and  sublime  in  nature,  it  raised 
emotions  that  I  cannot  express.  Such  a  prospect,  perhaps, 
would  appear  very  different  to  you,  educated,  as  you  have 
been,  in  the  city.  To  you  it  might  seem  only  a  view  of  gloomy 
vales  and  cheerless  hills,  where  owls  might  screech  or  wolves 
howl ;  but  to  me  it  appeared  like  the  '  land  of  delight,'  where 
the  whippoorwill  sung  in  the  evening  and  the  robin  in  the 
morning,  where  simple  sincerity  took  the  place  of  unmean- 
ing compliments  and  polished  hypocrisy ;  and  yet  I  am  in- 
clined to  think  you  would  love  Vermont.  Your  own  native 
simplicity  of  character  would  lead  you  to  love  the  people, 
and  the  beauties  of  nature  would  inspire  you  with  love  for 
its  natural  scenery  :  for  we  have  not  only  much  of  the  beau- 
tiful, but  the  grand,  the  sublime,  that  can  kindle  up  the  loft- 
iest emotions  of  the  soul.  When,  my  dear  R.,  I  add  to  these 
wild  and  lofty  formations  of  nature  the  careering  of  the  ele- 
ments in  all  their  terrific  grandeur,  my  own  soul  is  over- 
whelmed, not  only  with  the  awful  sublimity  and  grandeur  of 
(  Him  who  made  them  all,'  but  with  a  sense  of  my  own  notk* 
ingness,  a  worm  of  the  dust,  a  mere  speck  in  creation  !  O 
the  boundless  goodness  of  God !  who,  though  he  makes 
darkness  his  secret  place,  his  pavilion  round  about  him 
dark  waters  and  thick  clouds  of  the  skies,  yet  he  deigns 
to  notice  even  me  !  poor  feeble  me  !  O  the  unparalleled  con- 
descension of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  !  O  my  soul, 
be  lost  in  wonder,  love,  and.  praise  /" 

In  the  course  of  this  jaunt  Mr.  Fisk  visited  his  relatives 
at  Brattleborough,  where  he  was  invited  to  preach  in  the 
Congregational  Church.  The  circumstances  are,  at  this  day, 
somewhat  amusing.    The  people  of  this  town,  like  many 


INCIDENT  AT  BRATTLEBOROUGII  DEDICATION  SERMON.  117 

others  in  New-England  at  that  period,  did  not  very  well 
understand  the  Wesleyan  system  ;  but  they,  nevertheless, 
agreed  that  it  was  dreadfully  heretical.  The  congregation 
did  not  generally  know  that  he  was  a  Methodist,  nor  ever 
suspected  from  his  preaching  that  he  was  heterodox.  He 
preached  with  all  his  usual  effect.  His  audience  thought  it 
not  inconsistent  with  the  soundest  orthodoxy  greatly  to  ad- 
mire the  sermon.  One  old  lady,  who  thought  the  Metho- 
dist doctrine  very  terrible,  was  particularly  warm  and  profuse 
in  her  encomiums  ;  but  her  more  knowing  son  remarked, 
"  Well,  mother,  you  have  heard  a  Methodist  preacher  at 
last,  and  you  have  lived  through  it."  The  good  lady  felt 
thunderstruck  ;  nevertheless,  she  had  gone  too  far  to  retract. 
"  Well,  well,  well,"  said  a  gentleman,  on  being  similarly 
caught,  "  if  that  be  Methodism,  I  wish  we  had  more  of  it." 
Mr.  Fisk  preached  but  a  few  times  in  Brattleborough,  yet  he 
has  several  living  seals  to  his  ministry  there. 

He  reached  his  father's  some  time  in  September,  much 
recruited  in  health  and  strength.  Soon  after  he  wrote  to  a 
friend,  saying  that  his  "  summer's  leisure  and  holyday  had 
been  of  great  service"  to  him  ;  adding,  "  but  I  find  I  must 
have  done  with  this  idling,  and  go  to  work."  Accordingly,  a 
vacancy  having  occurred  on  Lyndon  Circuit,  through  the  ill- 
ness of  a  minister,  he  consented  to  fill  his  appointment.  He 
was  now  employed  in  the  manner  most  congenial  to  his  dis- 
position. "  I  am  now,"  he  writes,  "  in  the  character  that  I 
so  much  admire — a  regular  itinerant  preacher."  There  are 
many  who  will  not  sympathize  with  him  in  this  admiration  ; 
but  we  must  remember  that  our  estimate  of  an  object  de- 
pends as  much  on  our  own  character  as  on  the  object  itself. 
To  one  class  we  read  "  the  preaching  of  the  cross  was  fool- 
ishness," while  to  another  it  was  "  the  power  of  God." 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year  (1822)  the  Methodist  Society 
at  the  adjacent  town  of  Danville  invited  Mr.  Fisk  to  preach 
the  dedication  sermon  for  a  church  they  had  just  erected. 
It  was  with  no  little  diffidence  he  gave  his  consent.  In  a 
letter  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Filmore,  dated  October  27,  is 
found  the  following  passage  in  reference  to  it  : 


118 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  This  week,  on  Wednesday,  is  appointed  for  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  new  Methodist  Chapel  at  Danville.  For  the 
want  of  a  better  man,  who  had  time  or  inclination  to  under- 
take it,  they  have  appointed  poor  me  to  preach  the  dedica- 
tion sermon.  My  subject  is, 1  God  is  a  Spirit :  and  they  that 
worship  him  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.' — 
John,  iv.,  24. 

"  The  doctrine  of  the  text  is  contained  in  two  propositions  : 
"  First.  The  worship  of  God  must  be  spiritual. 
"  Second.  The  worship  of  God  must  be  in  truth. 
"  And  the  doctrine  contained  in  these  two  propositions  is 
confirmed  and  enforced  by  a 
"  Third,  <  God  is  a  Spirit.' 

"  1  guess  it  will  be  rather  a  slim  sermon.  But  I  can  judge 
better  after  it  is  preached ;  and  my  hearers  will  judge  better 

stuiy 

His  congregation  did  judge  better  :  for  their  judgment  in- 
duced him  to  send  it  to  the  press,  whence  it  was  issued  in 
pamphlet  form,  and  afterward  (1824)  was  inserted  in  the 
Methodist  Magazine. 

When  the  reader  considers  how  recently  the  author  had 
commenced  his  ministry,  he  will  admit  that  he  could  have 
been  no  negligent  student  of  theology.  The  design  of  the 
sermon  was  to  give  a  view  of  the  doctrines  and  kind  of 
preaching  that  might  be  expected  from  that  pulpit.  It  is 
well  adjusted  to  the  purpose.  It  is  clear  in  its  statements, 
evangelical  in  its  character,  practical  in  its  tendency,  and 
fervent  in  its  piety.  It  had  not  the  urgency  and  fervour  of 
his  ordinary  style  of  preaching,*  but  the  occasion  hardly 
called  for  it.  Nor  had  it  the  maturity  and  finish  of  his  later 
productions.  Nevertheless,  it  is  a  discourse,  especially  con- 
sidering the  early  period  of  his  life  and  ministry,  of  far  more 
than  ordinary  ability. 

While  Mr.  Fisk  was  stationed  at  Charlestown,  he  and 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  learned  that  at  this  time  Mr.  Fisk  was  obliged 
to  preach  with  the  greatest  caution.  He  durst  not  allow  his  feelings  to  become 
deeply  enlisted  in  his  subject,  for  fear  of  renewing  his  hemorrhage.  He  fre- 
quently said  that  it  required  much  grace  and  self-command  to  restrain  his  emo- 
tions within  the  limit  of  prudence. 


ORIGIN  OF  ZION'S  HERALD. 


119 


others  felt  the  want  of  some  medium  by  which  the  friends 
of  Zion  could  communicate  their  views,  and  diffuse  religious 
intelligence  among  the  churches.  Accordingly,  an  asso- 
ciation was  formed,  called  an  Intelligence  Society,  under 
whose  auspices  a  small  pamphlet  was  issued  weekly.  But 
this  not  fully  answering  the  purpose,  it  was  determined  to 
establish  a  weekly  religious  newspaper  of  a  superior  char- 
acter. The  subject  was  accordingly  brought  before  the 
New-England  Conference.  This  was  the  origin  of  Zion's 
Herald,  the  first  publication  of  the  kind  in  our  denomination, 
if  not  the  first  in  the  country  and  the  world.  It  was  ably 
conducted,  and  soon  obtained  a  large  circulation,  so  that 
when,  in  the  year  1826,  it  was  transferred  to  the  Book-room, 
it  numbered  more  than  five  thousand  subscribers. 

To  the  Agent  of  the  Intelligence  Society,  Boston. 

"  Lyndon,  November  8th,  1822. 

"Dear  Brother, 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  have  written  you,  as  the  agent  for 
the  Intelligence  Society,  before  this  ;  but  my  labours  for  the 
season  thus  far  (until  within  a  few  weeks)  have  been  so  gen- 
eral and  scattered,  that  I  have  hardly  had  anything  to  com- 
municate ;  neither  have  I  now  anything  of  very  special  im- 
portance. We  can  say,  however,  to  the  praise  of  God's 
grace,  that  our  Zion  generally,  in  this  section  of  the  work,  is 
rising.  Clouds  of  mercy,  for  more  than  twelve  months  past, 
seem  to  have  been  gathering  over  us,  and  still  they  promise 
much.  Though  we  do  not  realize  as  yet  any  very  powerful 
showers  of  reviving  grace,  yet  gentle  rains,  like  '  showers 
that  water  the  earth,'  refresh  different  parts  of  our  vineyard. 
Lyndon  Circuit,  where  I  now  labour,  is,  on  the  whole,  rising. 
Lyndon  itself  is  not  so  full  of  the  heavenly  flame  as  it  has 
sometimes  been,  though  the  members  are  generally  steadfast. 
In  Sutton,  where  but  twelve  or  fifteen  months  since  we  had 
but  eight  or  ten  members,  we  have  now  between  thirty  and 
forty,  and  the  work  is  still  promising.  This  work  ought  to 
be  particularly  noticed.  It  is  in  a  town  where,  for  a  number 
of  years,  there  has  been  little  else  but  '  envying,  strife,  and 
every  evil  work.'    Citizen  has  been  armed  against  citizen, 


120 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


and  neighbour  against  neighbour,  even  to  personal  violence 
and  wanton  destruction  of  each  other's  property.  And,  what 
rendered  it  more  painful  to  the  friends  of  religion  and  peace, 
this  division  and  enmity  had  its  first  rise  in  strife  between 
two  churches  of  different  denominations  ;  but  our  preachers 
went  in,  and  began  to  preach  without  meddling  with  any  of 
their  contentions.  God  has  owned  the  word,  and  the  pros- 
pect is  that  the  old  leaven  of  malice  will  be  purged  out  by 
the  leaven  of  grace.  Truly  the  words  of  the  prophet  are 
verified  :  '  The  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace,  and  the 
effects  of  righteousness  quietness.' 

"  In  Burke  we  have  lately  received  some  members,  and  the 
prospect  is  good.  At  Concord  we  have  raised  up  a  small 
society,  within  nine  months  past,  of  something  like  thirty 
members,  against  much  opposition  and  strong  prejudices. 

'  It  has  been  one  of  those  places,  of  which  we  have  too 
many  in  New-England,  where  Methodism  has  been  hardly 
known  except  as  a  term  of  reproach.  When  shall  we  have 
light  enough  to  enlighten  all  the  dark  corners  of  our  land  ? 

"  I  have  lately  visited  Craftsbury  and  Danville  Circuits, 
and  find  them,  on  the  whole,  rising.  Our  camp-meeting  at 
Cabot  was  made  a  great  blessing  to  Danville  Circuit.  The 
members,  which  were  before  generally  low,  are  greatly 
quickened.  There  are  conversions  and  growing  prospects 
in  Cabot,  Hardwick,  Danville,  Woodbury,  and  Walden. 
In  the  three  latter  towns  especially  there  are  good  revivals. 
A  very  neat,  convenient  chapel,  the  first  (best  ?)  on  the  cir- 
cuit, was  dedicated  in  Danville  on  the  30th  of  last  month 
[October],  and  another  is  under  way  in  Cabot  ;  so  that  that 
circuit,  which  has  been  declining  for  a  few  years  past,  espe- 
cially since  Lyndon  was  taken  off  from  it,  bids  fair  to  take 
a  good  stand  very  speedily. 

"  On  Craftsbury  Circuit,  there  are  conversions  in  Albany 
and  Barton,  and  quite  an  awakening  in  Holland.  There 
old  Brother  Robinson,  whose  house  used  to  be  a  home  for 
our  preachers  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  thirty  years  ago, 
is  reaping  the  fruits  of  his  prayers.  He  was  at  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  for  Craftsbury  Circuit  in  Albany  ;  his  head  was 
white  with  age,  but  his  soul  was  in  full  strength;  and  he  was 


DEVOUT  FRAME. 


121 


rejoicing  in  the  perfect  love  of  God,  and  praising  the  Lord 
from  a  full  soul  that  many  of  his  neighbours  and  some  of  his 
children  were  turning  to  the  Lord.  *  I  had  almost  given 
over,'  said  the  good  old  man,  1  but  the  Lord  has  heard  my 
prayer  at  last.' 

"  Finally,  we  have  much  to  encourage  us  in  these  regions, 
and  have  reason  to  think  that  God  is  with  us.  While  you 
have  a  strong  company  to  unite  with  you  in  Boston,  do  not 
forget  the  few  sheep  scattered  upon  the  mountains  of  Ver- 
mont." 

Can  any  one  read  the  following  account  of  his  humble, 
devout,  heavenly  state  of  mind  without  having  his  own  heart 
affected  and  his  devotional  feelings  elevated  ?  It  is  an  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  to  his  aunt  at  Brattleborough  : 

"  December  10,  1822. 
#  #  #  "  But  I  want,  most  of  all,  to  feel  more  of  the  bless- 
ed effects  of  the  atoning  sacrifice  in  my  own  soul.  I  have 
not  the  power  to  explain,  as  clearly  as  I  could  wish,  this 
glorious  doctrine  to  others,  so  as  to  enlighten  the  ignorant 
and  silence  cavillers ;  but  in  the  experimental  use  of  this 
doctrine,  as  it  respects  my  own  case,  I  have  not,  for  two  or 
three  years,  found  any  perplexing  difficulties  in  my  creed — 
I  had  like  to  have  said,  no  obscurity  in  my  views — and  I 
know  not  but  I  might  have  said  it  with  safety.  I  see  clearly 
the  necessity,  and  propriety,  and  glory  of  taking  Jesus  Christ 
as  my  wisdom,  my  righteousness,  my  sanclification,  my  re- 
demption.  And  I  see,  I  think,  very  clearly  how  this  is  done 
— by  simple  faith.  My  mind  seldom  hits  upon  this  subject 
but  it  causes  to  vibrate  one  of  the  tenderest  chords  of  my 
soul ;  it  '  dissolves  my  heart  in  tenderness,  and  melts  my 
eyes  to  tears.'  Is  this  the  excitement  of  merely  natural  sym- 
pathies ?  Is  it  enthusiasm  ?  Blessed  enthusiasm  !  Would 
to  God  I  could  live  under  its  influence  forever !  It  tends, 
more  than  anything  else,  to  sink  me  into  my  own  nothing- 
ness ;  causes  me  to  throw  myself  in  the  dust  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross,  my  only  proper  place  ;  leads  me  to  exalted  and 
heart-cheering  views  of  God,  my  Redeemer,  and  induces 
11  Q 


122 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


me  to  cry  out  with  the  apostle,  6  This  is  a  faithful  saying', 
and  worthy  of^all  acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief.'  But  my  diffi- 
culty is  the  weakness  and  inconstancy  of  that  apprehending, 
that  appropriating  act  of  faith,  which  '  receives  the  atone- 
ment' and  holds  it  fast ;  which  takes  into  the  heart  the  heav- 
enly guest,  and  entertains  him  there.  Faith,  when  it  is  as 
it  should  be,  enables  the  soul  not  only  occasionally  to  breathe, 
but  constantly  to  live.  i  I  am  crucified  with  Christ,'  saith 
the  apostle,  '  nevertheless  I  live ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liv- 
eth  in  me  ;  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh  I  live 
by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave  him- 
self for  me.'  How  few  know  by  experience  the  deep  import 
of  these  words  ?  and  yet  all  should  know  it — all  may  know 
it.  Into  this  state  my  soul  at  times  presses  to  enter :  till  I 
attain  to  this,  I  cannot,  must  not  rest.  If  you  believe  this 
state  attainable,  my  dear  aunt,  and  I  think  you  do,  unite 
your  prayers  with  mine,  that  I  may  gain,  in  the  full  sense 
of  the  apostle,  this  death,  this  life,  this  spiritual  crucifixion 
and  resurrection  ;  and  then,  whenever  I  come  to  the  people, 
I  shall  come  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of 
peace." 

To  a  young  relative,  who  was  in  danger  of  imbibing  lax 
and  dangerous  views  of  Christianity,  Mr.  Fisk  addressed  this 
faithful  letter  of  warning  and  remonstrance. 

"  Lyndon,  January  15,  1823. 
u  As  your  father  is  going  down,  I  can  hardly  persuade  my- 
self to  let  so  favourable  an  opportunity  pass  without  writing, 
though  I  have  nothing  of  consequence  to  communicate ; 
and  I  suppose  you  are  in  no  hurry  for  another  long  lecture, 
such  as  I  gave  you  in  my  last ;  probably  you  have  not  yet 
digested  that.  There  is  reason,  however,  for  another,  if  the 
fears  of  our  common  friend  H.  are  well  founded.  She  rather 
suspects  you  of  skepticism.  She  thinks,  however,  that  you 
are  not  aware  of  it,  but  that  it  is  creeping  upon  you,  and  en- 
twining itself  with  your  feelings  secretly  and  imperceptibly, 
while  you  imagine  that  you  are  still  holding  fast  the  princi- 


TO  A  YOUNG  FRIEND  ON  SKEPTICISM. 


123 


pies  in  which  you  were  educated.  Now  this,  considering 
where  you  live,  is  very  possible.  The  very  atmosphere  of 
Boston  is  contagious ;  and  a  man  mingling  in  society  there 
is  in  danger,  unless  fortified  by  experimental  godliness,  of 
inhaling  the  most  deleterious  air  that  was  ever  breathed  by 
the  soul  of  man.  A  man  is  in  more  danger  in  Boston,  be- 
cause the  cup  of  infidelity  is  beautifully  gilt,  and  its  con- 
tents so  artfully  mixed  that  he  who  quaffs  it  imagines  him- 
self drinking  the  most  salutary  beverage.  Their  religion  is 
liberal,  their  views  are  charitable.  They  have  no  opposition 
to  religion  ;  no,  they  are  great  advocates  for  it ;  but  it  is  en- 
thusiasm they  oppose — it  is  superstition — it  is  bigotry.  Thus, 
under  the  odious  names  of  enthusiasm,  superstition,  bigotry, 
they  are  removing  all  the  ancient  landmarks,  and  sapping 
the  very  foundation  of  Christianity ;  while  infidelity,  under 
the  imposing  names  of  Liberality  and  Charity,  is  coming  in 
like  a  flood.  This  I  conceive  to  be  a  true  statement  of  the 
general  state  of  things  in  Boston.  If  you  have  shared  so 
much  in  the  Boston  tone  of  feeling,  and  have  learned  so 
much  of  the  Boston  cant  as  to  say  to  yourself,  on  reading 
this, 1  Cousin  is  uncharitable  ;  he  is  illiberal  towards  the  Bos- 
tonians,'  why,  then,  I  say,  so  much  the  greater  your  danger. 
This  is  the  very  reason  why  their  society  and  influence  are 
dangerous,  because  they  appear  what  they  are  not,  and  be- 
cause they  make  people  think,  and  even  think  themselves, 
that  they  are  pretty  good  Christians,  when,  in  fact,  they  are 
pretty  near,  if  not  quite,  infidels.  Now,  cousin,  I  beg  of  you, 
be  on  your  guard.  Do  not  think  my  caution  unnecessary. 
Let  not  the  popularity  of  a  Channing,  an  Everett,  a  Ware, 
and  others,  lead  you  frequently  to  hear  them.  I  would  not, 
to  be  sure,  be  so  bigoted  as  not  to  hear  them  at  all ;  but  my 
visits  to  their  churches  should  be,  1  like  angels'  visits,  few 
and  far  between.'  If  you  want  to  be  instructed,  you  have  it 
in  your  power  to  hear,  every  Sabbath,  one  of  the  soundest 
divines  of  his  age — I  mean  Mr.  Hedding  ;*  if  you  would  get 
warmed,  hear  Mr.  Wiley  ;  and  if  you  would  have  your  sym- 
pathies moved  at  the  same  time  your  heart  is  instructed,  cross 

*  Rev.  Elijah  Hedding,  elected  and  ordained  bishop  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1824. 


124 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


the  bridge  and  hear  Mr.  Filmore  ;  then  you  will  have  an  op- 
portunity  of  taking  tea  with  Miss  M.  G.,  who  will  talk  more 
sound  sense  to  you  in  one  half  hour  than  some  of  your  Boston 
belles  in  a  week.  I  doubt  not  but  you  may  find,  among  the 
other  denominations — the  Baptists,  Episcopalians,  and  Hop- 
kinsian  Congregationalists  —  much  that  will  be  edifying. 
Their  cup,  to  be  sure,  may  have  a  little  of  the  Calvinistic  bit- 
ter ;  but  this  you  will  know  how  to  drain  off,  and  the  rest  will 
be  good  and  wholesome.  Finally,  you  and  I,  if  it  please  you, 
will  still  hold  to  the  good  old  way.  After  the  manner  which 
the  Bostonians  call  heresy,  we  will  worship  the  God  of  our 
fathers.  That  religion  which  our  great  grandfather  believed 
and  preached  ;  which  enabled  our  grandfather  to  triumph  in 
the  hour  of  death ;  and,  in  short,  which  supported  your  af- 
flicted and  pious  mother  for  many  years,  and  which  caused 
her  to  exult  in  the  painful  agonies  of  a  long-protracted  death 
— that  religion  shall  be  ours;  not  merely  because  it  was 
theirs,  but  because  it  is  the  religion  of  the  Bible,  and  be- 
cause it  supported  them,  and  has  supported  thousands,  in  the 
hour  when  they  most  needed  support.  At  that  time,  when 
the  heart-strings  break  ;  when  nature's  crimson  current  cur- 
dles back  to  the  heart ;  when  all  the  vain  popularity  of  the 
world  bursts  like  an  airy  bubble  ;  and  when  eternity,  with 
all  its  awful  realities,  rushes  on  to  meet  the  soul,  then  Je- 
sus, formed  in  the  soul  the  hope  of  glory,  affords  to  the  dy- 
ing saint  his  last,  his  only  support." 

The  ensuing  letter  to  a  young  lady  is  an  additional  proof 
of  the  solicitude  with  which  he  watched  over  those  who  had 
been  the  subjects  of  his  ministry.  She  was  on  a  visit  to 
Charleston,  S.  C,  for  the  benefit  of  her  health. 

"  Lyndon,  Vt.,  Feb.  9th,  1823. 
"  After  the  fatiguing  labours  of  the  Sabbath,  which  you 
know  is  my  day  of  labour,  I  have  seated  myself  in  my  room, 
for  retirement,  rest,  and  reflection.  Here,  as  is  not  unusual 
with  me,  especially  on  Sabbath  evenings,  past  scenes  and 
old  friends  pass  in  review  before  my  mind.  i  The  memory 
of  joys  that  are  past,'  says  Ossian,  'is  pleasant  and  mournful 


CHRISTIAN  COUNSEL.  125 

to  the  soul.'    It  is  with  mingled  emotions  of  pleasing  mel- 
ancholy that  I  call  up  those  scenes  that  have  gone  by,  in 
which  I  have  enjoyed  your  society  and  that  of  other  dear 
friends  in  Charlestown.    But,  so  far  as  these  times  have  been 
spent  to  the  glory  of  God,  I  do  not  regret  their  flight.  They 
have  only  been  hastening  us  on,  through  the  subordinate  and 
mingled  felicities  of  life,  to  the  supreme  and  unalloyed  feli- 
cities of  Heaven.    There  all  friends  that  are  united  by  the 
ties  of  Christian  affection  shall  one  day  meet  and  mingle  in 
their  celestial  joys,  and  chant  together  their  endless  songs. 
The  principal  inquiry  with  us,  then,  should  be,  Are  we  trav- 
elling thither?  and,  next  to  the  inquiry  into  my  own  state 
in  this  respect,  the  situation  of  those  who  have  been  the  sub- 
jects of  my  unworthy  labours  and  prayers  excites  the  highest 
interest  in  my  mind.    I  look  them  over  one  by  one,  and  raise 
the  inquiry  in  my  own  mind,  Is  this  one  persevering  ?  and 
then  strive  to  answer  the  question  according  to  my  latest  in- 
telligence, or  my  knowledge  of  their  dispositions  and  cir- 
cumstances.   You  cannot  wonder,  then,  if,  when  your  name 
comes  up,  I  have  some  anxious  feeling :  not  that  I  doubt 
your  attachment  to  the  cause  of  your  Redeemer,  but  I  know 
not  your  situation.    Perhaps  you  have  as  many  means  of 
grace  as  when  in  Massachusetts ;  but  it  is  possible  you  have 
not :  perhaps  you  are  surrounded  with  pious  friends,  who 
are  striving  to  help  you  along  in  the  way  of  the  cross ;  but 
it  may  be  you  are  among  the  lovers  of  this  world,  to  whom 
your  religion  will  appear  like  superstition,  and  whose  pleasure 
it  would  be  to  have  you  join  them  in  their  worldly  delights. 
If  this  should  be  your  situation — at  a  distance  from  your  pi- 
ous mother  and  sisters,  and  the  Christian  friends  with  whom 
you  have  associated — you  cannot  wonder,  I  say,  if  I  have 
some  anxieties  on  your  account.    It  may  be,  the  worldly  at- 
mosphere with  which  you  are  surrounded  will  damp,  at  least, 
your  spiritual  fervour ;  it  may  be,  you  will  drink  in  some  of 
the  heart-defiling,  soul-destroying  spirit.    To  prevent  this, 
as  well  as  to  assure  you  how  tenderly  and  affectionately  you 
are  remembered,  I  send  you,  from  the  mountains  of  Vermont, 
this  winged  messenger  of  peace  and  salvation  ;  and  I  say 
to  it,  Go  and  tell  A.,  from  him  whom  she  is  pleased  to  call 
11* 


126  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

her  spiritual  father,  who  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  the 
first  dawnings  of  heavenly  light  in  her  heart,  and  who  has 
often  strived  by  the  breath  of  prayer  with  her  and  others  to 
raise  the  smoking  flax  to  a  sacred  flame — tell  her,  I  say,  that 
she  must  guard  with  a  vestal  vigilance  and  a  vestal  purity 
the  holy  fire  that  has  been  kindled  in  her  heart ;  tell  her  she 
must  always  keep  in  mind  that  Jesus  whom  she  has  professed 
to  love,  that  cause  which  she  has  professed  to  honour  ;  that 
if  ever  the  empty,  the  gilded  and  fascinating  objects  of  this 
world  begin  to  assume  an  engaging  and  inviting  appearance, 
she  must  turn  her  eye  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  gaze  upon 
its  divine  sublimities  and  glories  till  the  transforming  vision 
stamp  an  emptiness,  a  deserved  emptiness,  upon  all  the  baw- 
bles  of  time  ;  tell  her  I  fear,  most  of  all,  that  disposition 
of  hers,  that  is  so  unwilling  to  deny  anything  that  is  pleasing 
to  her  friends  :  a  disposition  which,  when  properly  sancti- 
fied and  regulated,  renders  its  possessor  a  most  amiable  and 
engaging  friend ;  but  which,  like  most  other  endowments, 
may  become  a  source  of  temptation.    It  may  lead  to  that 
yielding  relaxation,  to  those  condescending  compliances, 
which  are  incompatible  with  the  unbending  principles  of  a 
self-crucifying  Gospel ;  that  Gospel  which  has  said,  '  If  any 
man  come  unto  me,  and  hate  not  (that  is,  comparatively) 
his  father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and  children,  and  brethren, 
and  sisters,  yea,  and  even  his  own  life  also,  he  cannot  be  my 
disciple.' — Luke,  xiv.,  26.    Let  this  teach  my  dear  A.  the 
necessity,  at  least,  of  being  on  her  guard  ;  of  saying,  in  the 
spirit  of  a  resolute  Christian,  Thus  far  can  I  go,  but  no  far- 
therS' 

"  April  28th. 

"To  Miss  Peck. 

"I  would  not,  by  a  second  delay,  subject  you  again  to 
anxiety.  I  cannot  but  think,  with  you,  that  it  is  wrong  to 
suffer  the  feelings  to  be  so  anxiously  exercised,  though  I 
know  it  is  natural  ;  still,  reason  would  say  it  is  wrong, 
since  it  neither  benefits  your  friends  nor  yourself ;  religion 
would  say  it  is  wrong,  since  it  implies  a  distrust  in  God's 


DANGER  OF  STRONG  EMOTION. 


127 


providences,  or  dissatisfaction  with  his  dispensations.  If  you 
find  it  difficult  to  overcome  your  feelings,  let  it  lead  you  to 
the  inquiry,  Am  I  not  too  strongly  attached  to  the  creature  ? 
am  I  not  depending  too  much  upon  earthly  enjoyments  ? 
Indeed,  my  dear,  I  have  sometimes  feared  that  you  were ; 
that  you  were  calculating  too  much  upon  me ;  that  you  may 
be  disappointed.  You  will  find  much,  very  much  in  me,  to 
try  all  your  Christian  graces,  but  much  more  in  my  situa- 
tion ;  for  it  will  be  no  small  lesson,  educated  as  you  have 
been,  to  learn  '  to  become  all  things  to  all  men  :'  and  this 
seems  to  be  necessary  for  the  wife  of  an  itinerant  minister. 
But  I  trust  my  dear  R.  can  learn  it.  I  do  not  wish  my  friends 
to  be  stoical.  If  they  had  not  warm  feelings,  and  were  not 
susceptible  of  strong  attachments,  /  should  be  less  interested 
in  them.  I  think  I  see  these  traits  of  character  in  the  man 
Christ  Jesus  ;  and  they  are  very  strongly  marked  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  apostles  St.  Paul  and  St.  John.  And  these  ten- 
der sympathies  and  social  feelings,  when  sanctified  by  grace 
and  dignified  by  a  judicious  depor'ment,  render  their  possess- 
or truly  lovely.  They  are  the  delightful  cords  that  bind  kin- 
dred spirits  together — the  uniting  cement  of  friendly  souls. 
Nor  is  it  surprising  that  one  who,  like  you,  has  had  most 
of  their  earthly  ties  severed,  should  feel  their  attachment 
to  the  few  friends  that  remain  strengthened.  But  this  very 
circumstance  shows  you  the  uncertainty  of  earthly  enjoy- 
ments, and  the  danger  of  trusting  to  them  too  much.  Be- 
sides, you  well  know,  my  dear,  that  these  sympathies,  how- 
ever commendable  when  they  are  kept  in  their  proper  place, 
are  sure,  when  they  take  the  lead  of  the  soul,  to  conduct  us, 
through  pain  and  anxieties,  to  disappointment.  When  we 
are  just  ready  to  quaff  the  cup  of  earthly  enjoyment,  it  falls 
from  our  hand,  or  in  tasting  it  we  find  mingled  therein  some 
unexpected  bitterness  ;  and  frequently  our  Heavenly  Father, 
when  he  sees  that  we  are  depending  too  much  upon  any 
earthly  good,  in  mercy  to  us  either  deprives  us  of  it,  or  im- 
bitters  the  enjoyment.  May  Heaven  forbid  that  we  should 
bring  upon  ourselves  any  painful  discipline  of  this  kind  by 
our  undue  attachment  to  sublunary  good.  It  is  my  ardent 
prayer  that  Christ  would  unite  us  to  himself  as  the  branch 


128 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


is  united  to  the  vine ;  that,  while  we  *  love  each  other  with 
pure  hearts  fervently,'  we  may  love  him  supremely ;  and 
have,  above  all  things,  an  experimental  knowledge  of  that 
mystical  union  that  exists  between  Christ  and  his  Church  : 
so  that  hereafter,  when  Christ  shall  come  to  take  home  his 
weary  bride,  you  may  go  into  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
Lamb,  and  there  be  met  by 

"  Your  unworthy  but  truly  affectionate 

"W.  Fjsk." 

Mr.  Fisk's  health  had  now  so  far  improved  that  he  could 
perform  all  the  necessary  labours  of  his  ministry,  preaching 
often  five  times  a  week  without  inconvenience.  He  had 
learned  some  prudence  "  by  the  things  which  he  suffered,' \ 
and  never  afterward  exerted  and  exposed  himself  as  he  had 
done  before.  Having  now  a  prospect  of  life  and  improved 
health,  he  thought  seriously  of  bringing  his  matrimonial  en- 
gagement to  a  consummation.  To  prepare  the  mind  of  Miss 
Peck  for  the  anticipated  change  in  her  situation,  he  wrote  to 
her,  February  21st,  a  letter,  from  which  what  follows  is  an 
extract : 

"  You  can  form  no  idea,  my  dear  R.,  of  the  pleasure  we 
take  in  this  cold  country  in  sleigh-riding,  which  we  general- 
ly enjoy  from  the  middle  of  October  to  March,  and  some- 
times to  the  last  of  March.  It  is  indeed  cold  ;  but  this, 
strange  as  it  may  seem,  constitutes  half  of  the  amusement. 
Roll  yourself  up  in  fur,  and  then,  with  a  fiery  Green  Mount- 
ain courser,  you  may  glide  over  the  snowhills  without  re- 
membering it  is  winter  ;  or,  if  a  northwest  breeze  sometimes 
puts  you  in  mind  of  it,  this  only  increases  the  enjoyment 
by  making  you  reflect  how  much  cold  is  left  behind  by  the 
swiftness  of  your  courser,  and  how  much  is  kept  out  by  your 
buffalo,  and  by  making  you  feel  in  anticipation  the  warmth 
of  the  blazing  fire  that  awaits  you  when  you  stop.  Nothing 
is  more  certain  than  this  truth,  that  pleasure  is  heightened  by 
partial  deprivation  :  but  I  will  not  stop  to  philosophize  here. 
I  was  about  to  say,  I  wish  you  were  here  to  take  a  sleigh- 
ride  with  us ;  it  would  be  a  double  pleasure  to  me ;  but, 
again,  the  thought  arises  that  it  might  not  be  so  to  you. 


LETTER  TO  MISS  PECK.  MARRIAGE.  129 

"  Our  society,  with  a  few  exceptions,  is  not  as  refined  as 
that  with  which  you  have  been  accustomed  to  mingle.  We 
are  a  plain  people  ;  there  is  more  honest  simplicity  than  re- 
finement among  us.  But,  if  I  have  judged  correctly  of  my 
dear  friend,  she  would  value  refinement  little,  unaccompa- 
nied by  moral  worth.  What  we  lack  in  polish  we  try  to 
make  up  in  integrity  and  moral  principle.  We  have  many 
warm  hearts  here,  who  not  only  love  their  friends  with  ar- 
dour, but,  I  trust,  their  God  with  pure  hearts  fervently ;  many 
spirits  with  whom  I  trust  it  will  be  our  delight  to  mingle 
through  the  ceaseless  ages  of  eternity.  Religion  does  indeed 
purify  the  heart  from  that  selfishness  which  seeks  only  its 
own  accommodation  and  its  own  interests  ;  and  not  unfre- 
quently,  under  a  very  rough  exterior  you  will  find  a  soul 
noble,  disinterested,  and  lovely  in  its  moral  qualities.  And 
these  qualities,  my  dear  R.,  you  and  I  will  think  most  of; 
however  pleasing  a  polished  exterior  may  be  to  us,  we  will 
remember  that  those  who  give  evidence  of  being  the  children 
of  God  are  lovely  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  that  it  is 
with  them  we  hope  to  spend  eternity.  Besides,  we  must 
take  the  world  as  it  is,  and  do  what  we  can  to  make  it  bet- 
ter, always  remembering  that  others  will  have  much  to  bear 
from  our  infirmities.  If  the  Lord  will  but  give  us  souls  for 
our  hire,  no  matter  whether  they  are  among  the  rich  or  the 
poor,  the  refined  or  unrefined  :  the  love  of  Christ  will  refine 
them,  and  in  the  day  of  eternity  will  polish  them  as  dia- 
monds of  the  first  water.  What  a  lovely  character  has  St. 
Paul  drawn  for  our  imitation  in  thirteenth  chapter  of  1st  Co- 
rinthians !  I  love  to  contemplate  it,  and  long  to  see  all  its 
fruits  in  my  own  soul,  and  in  those  who  are  dear  to  me  ; 
and  for  this  daily  prays 

"Yours  in  affection." 

In  the  same  spirit  of  devout  piety  that  he  had  exhibited 
all  along,  he  proceeded  in  his  nuptial  arrangements.  On 
the  14th  day  of  May  he  wrote  his  last  lines  to  Miss  Peck 
prior  to  their  union.  In  this,  as  he  disliked  publicity  and 
parade,  he  requested  that  the  ceremony,  contrary  to  the 
usage  of  the  church  to  which  she  belonged,  might  take 

R 


130 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


place  at  her  mother's  house:  he  then  adds,  "Let  us  devout- 
ly pray,  my  dear  R.,  that  God  would  crown  our  union  with 
his  approbation  ;  making  it  a  source  of  consolation  and 
thanksgiving  to  us,  and,  above  all,  a  blessing  to  his  Church. 
Pray  much  for  yourself,  but  much,  very  much  for  me,  that 
we  may  maintain  a  singleness  of  eye  to  the  glory  of  God  ; 
that  we  may  be  one  in  heart,  one  in  life,  and  one  in  a  glori- 
ous immortality."  They  were  married  on  the  morning  of 
the  9th  of  June,  1823,  after  a  courtship  of  seven  years. 


DIALOGUE.  UNIVERSALISM. 


131 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Dialogue. — Universalism. — Appointed  Presiding  Elder. — Official  Conduct. — Let- 
ters.— Incident. — Traits  of  Character. — General  Conference  of  1824. 

The  New-England  Conference  met  this  year  at  Provi- 
dence. Mr.  Fisk,  having  passed  through  his  labours  with 
satisfaction  and  gradually  improving  health,  attended  and  re- 
sumed his  effective  relation. 

In  the  course  of  business,  the  agency  for  the  Newmarket 
Academy  came  up;  and  when  it  was  announced  that  the 
agent  had  been  altogether  inactive,  the  following  conversation 
took  place  between  him  and  the  presiding  bishop : 

"Why,"  said  the  bishop,  "  have  you  not  solicited  funds 
for  the  academy  ?" 

"  Because,  sir,  my  conscience  would  not  let  me." 
"Must  the  Conference,  then,"  returned  the  bishop,  "be 
governed  by  your  conscience  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  "  was  the  reply,  "  I  do  not  wish  the  Conference 
to  be  governed  by  my  conscience,  but  I  must  be  ;  neither  do 
I  wish  to  control  the  Conference  in  any  way  ;  but  if,  after 
examining  the  school  for  themselves,  the  Conference  see  fit 
to  place  it  on  a  different  footing,  it  shall  have  my  utmost  ex- 
ertion." # 
The  suggestion  was  adopted.  A  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  Messrs.  Hedding  (now  Bishop  Hedding),  Lindsey,  and 
Fisk,  was  appointed,  with  authority  to  investigate  the  sub- 
ject, and  to  adopt  such  measures  as  might  be  deemed  ex- 
pedient or  necessary.  The  final  consequence  was  an  en- 
tirely new  organization  of  the  school,  and  its  removal  to  Wil- 
braham.    But  of  this  we  shall  learn  more  hereafter. 

The  region  of  country  embraced  in  the  New-England 
Conference  was  much  infested  with  the  insidious  doctrines 
of  Universalism.  However  it  be  accounted  for,  and,  of 
course,  different  parties  will  explain  it  differently,  it  is  a  fact, 
that  the  regions  where  the  Genevan  theology  has  most  pre- 
vailed have  been  most  prolific  in  the  various  modifications 


132 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


of  semi-infidelity.  These  perversions  of  Christianity  gave 
great  trouble  to  the  zealous  and  untiring  ministers  in  the  New- 
England  Conference,  and  greatly  obstructed  the  spread  of 
evangelical  truth  and  holiness.  For  these  reasons,  the  Con- 
ference, at  its  preceding  session,  requested  Mr.  Fisk  to  deliv- 
er before  them  a  discourse  on  the  doctrine  of  future  punish- 
ment. Such  a  request  from  such  a  body,  most  of  them  so 
far  his  seniors  in  age  and  office,  must  be  regarded  as  highly 
complimentary.  On  the  23d  of  June  he  preached  before 
them  his  memorable  sermon,  from  the  text,  "  Also  unto  thee, 
O  Lord,  belongeth  mercy,  for  thou  renderest  to  every  man 
according  to  his  work." — Psa.  lxii.,  12.  This  is  truly  an  ad- 
mirable discourse,  indicating  unequivocal  proof  of  what  he 
was  to  become,  both  as  a  writer  and  a  preacher.  The  argu- 
ment is  clear,  close,  conclusive.  It  contains  as  much  thought 
as  could  well  be  brought  into  one  discourse  ;  while  some  of 
the  views,  especially  in  reconciling  the  punishment  of  sin 
with  the  Divine  mercy,  were  quite  original.  It  was  attacking 
Universalism  with  a  new  weapon,  and  on  its  own  ground. 
The  style  is  simple,  concise,  perspicuous  ;  sufficiently  logi- 
cal in  its  modes  of  expression  for  a  popular  audience,  but 
not  so  scholastic  as  to  be  obscure  even  to  the  uneducated.  It 
combines  practical  utility  with  theoretic  accuracy,  closing 
with  a  pertinent  and  vigorous  application. 

The  students  of  Brown  University  felt  no  small  interest  in 
^me  of  their  own  alumni,  who  was  now  rising  fast  into  pub- 
lic notice,  and  a  large  portion  of  them  were  present  on  the 
occasion.  They  participated  in  the  general  feeling  of  de- 
light excited  by  the  discourse,  and,  as  a  proof  of  it,  held  a 
meeting,  at  which  they  requested  a  copy  for  publication,  of- 
fering to  bear  the  expense  ;  and  when  Mr.  Fisk  pleaded  his 
inability  to  remain  long  enough  to  attend  to  it,  they  engaged 
to  superintend  its  passage  through  the  press.  The  Confer- 
ence also  passed  a  vote  unanimously  recommending  its  pub- 
lication. The  students,  accordingly,  had  it  printed  as  a 
pamphlet.  It  was  inserted  afterward  in  the  Methodist  Mag- 
azine, republished  in  the  Wesleyan  Magazine  in  London, 
and  printed  by  the  book-agents  in  a  separate  form,  and  has 
ever  since  been  kept  as  one  of  their  standard  publications, 
commanding  a  ready  and  extensive  sale. 


UNIVERSALISM.  PRESIDING  ELDER. 


133 


In  the  course  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  Pickering,  minis* 
ter  of  the  Universalist  Society  at  Providence,  published,  in  a 
paper  of  which  he  was  editor,  a  series  of  articles  on  this  dis- 
course. To  these  the  author  of  the  sermon  replied,  through 
the  columns  of  Zion's  Herald,  in  ten  numbers.  These  arti- 
cles are  written  with  an  ability  that  sustained  the  opinion  of 
his  talents  created  by  his  sermon,  and  amply  showed  the  fu- 
tility of  his  opponent's  reasoning  ;  but,  as  we  could  not  pre- 
sent a  connected  view  of  his  arguments,  and  detached  state- 
ments would  answer  but  little  purpose,  we  content  ourselves 
by  referring  the  reader  to  Dr.  Fisk's  works. 

It  is  no  small  proof  of  the  position  to  which  Mr.  Fisk  had 
risen  in  the  estimation  of  his  brethren,  that  he  was  thus  early 
appointed  presiding  elder  of  the  Vermont  District.  Leaving 
Mrs.  Fisk  for  the  present  with  her  mother,  as  soon  as  Con- 
ference was  over  he  set  off  for  the  scene  of  his  labours.  It 
was  an  ample  field,  comprising  all  that  part  of  the  State  of 
Vermont  lying  east  of  the  Green  Mountains,  with  one  cir- 
cuit in  New-Hampshire.    The  duties  of  this  important  office 
— the  connecting-link  between  the  bishop  and  the  stationed 
ministers,  and  the  Conference  and  the  people — were  in  those 
days  peculiarly  arduous.    To  travel  over  the  entire  ground 
once  in  three  months,  to  hold  Quarterly  Conferences  "  to 
hear  complaints  and  try  appeals,"  to  preach,  meet  the  so- 
cieties, attend  to  the  wants  of  the  preachers  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  discipline,  and  to  see  that  the  ecclesiastical  affairs, 
temporal  and  spiritual,  are  properly  conducted,  is  a  work  of 
great  labour  and  responsibility.    And  not  the  least  delicate 
part  of  his  duty  is  the  conveyance  of  suitable  information 
concerning  the  qualifications  of  ministers,  and  the  claims  of 
the  various  places,  to  the  bishop  and  his  council,  for  making 
out  the  annual  appointments.    These  duties  require  a  rare 
combination  of  excellences.    Much  wisdom  and  prudence, 
great  knowledge  of  human  nature,  ardent  attachment  to  the 
Methodist  Discipline,  a  faithfulness  that  shrinks  from  no 
duty,  however  unpleasant,  yet  a  temper  not  easily  offended 
or  quickly  appeased,  an  impartiality  that  eschews  alike  fa- 
vouritism and  antipathy,  are  among  the  essential  qualifica- 
tions.   But  to  combine  these  with  that  ardour  of  tempera- 
12 


134 


LIFE  OF  VVILLBUR  FISK. 


ment,  and  energy  of  character,  and  spirit  of  enterprise,  all 
baptized  into  a  pure,  unadulterated  Christian  zeal,  and  with 
efficient  pulpit  talents  to  ensure  adequate  respect  and  use- 
fulness both  among  preachers  and  people,  is  the  more  diffi- 
cult, because  these  attributes,  involving  some  apparent  con- 
trariety, are  not  often  found  together  ;  but  they  were  beau- 
tifully blended  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Fisk ;  and  hence  he 
was  received,  notwithstanding  his  youth,  by  all  his  charge 
with  the  utmost  cordiality. 

He  went  to  his  field  of  labour  in  the  true  spirit  of  his  com- 
mission. He  found  many  things  that  required  all  his  care 
and  efforts.  The  reins  of  discipline  had  become  in  many 
places  not  a  little  relaxed  ;  the  general  rules  were  in  some 
cases  habitually  violated ;  and  love-feasts,  and  even  class- 
meetings,  irregularly  attended.  These  disorders  grieved 
him.  "I  am  more  than  ever  convinced,"  he  says,  in  a  let- 
ter to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Filmore,  "  of  the  importance  of  keep- 
ing all  these  little  affairs  straight ;  otherwise  Methodism  will 
and  must  inevitably  run  down."  He  accordingly  commen- 
ced at  once,  resolutely  but  prudently,  to  correct  whatever 
was  contrary  to  the  discipline,  urging  people  and  preachers 
to  enter  more  fully  into  the  grand  business  of  their  profes- 
sion. 

In  those  days,  when  the  circuits  were  very  extensive, 
Quarterly  Meetings  were  very  important  and  interesting 
seasons.  They  were  always  continued  at  least  two  days, 
viz.,  on  Saturday  and  Sunday.  The  people  came  in  flocks 
from  all  parts  of  the  circuit ;  and  friends  and  brethren,  who 
seldom  saw  each  other  but  then,  met,  and  sang,  and  prayed, 
and  rejoiced  together,  as  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles  among 
the  Jews.  They  were  always  looked  forward  to  as  signal 
privileges,  and  preachers  and  people  were  disappointed  if 
they  had  not  some  sensible  spiritual  benefits.  And  who  can 
tell  how  much  these  occasions  helped  to  foster  Christian 
sympathy,  and  promote  a  community  of  feeling  and  inter- 
est, and  thus  bind  the  Church  together  in  bonds  of  closer 
union  ? 

Mr.  Fisk  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office. 
Notwithstanding  his  feeble  health,  he  was  always  punctual 


CONDUCT  IN  HIS  OFFICE. 


135 


to  his  appointments ;  and  "  his  coming,"  says  the  Rev.  C. 
D.  Cahoon,  "  was  always  like  the  coming  of  Titus."  His 
practice  was  to  keep  each  Friday  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  in  especial  reference  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting.  On 
Saturday  his  sermons  were  designed  for  the  edification  of 
the  Church,  and  were  usually  on  the  higher  points  of  Chris- 
tian practice  and  experience  ;  for  it  was  his  sentiment  that 
"  a  little  band  of  holy,  faithful  Christians  are  stronger  than 
a  large  church  of  lukewarm  professors."  In  the  evening  he 
met  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference,  while  the  private 
members  held  a  prayer-meeting,  to  which,  provided  his 
health  permitted,  he  always  repaired  if  the  Conference 
closed  in  time.  The  general  practice  was  to  hold  the  love- 
feast  on  Sabbath  morning  before  preaching,  at  the  close  of 
which  he  was  accustomed,  when  there  was  need  of  it,  to  lay 
the  wants  of  the  minister  before  the  people,  and  urge  them 
to  exertion.  Often  has  the  young  and  inexperienced  heart 
been  encouraged  to  endure  the  trials  and  privations  of  the 
itinerant  life  by  the  affectionate  interest  thus  exhibited.  On 
the  Sabbath,  when  the  congregations  were  large  and  mixed, 
his  sermons  were  of  a  more  general  character,  but  always 
constructed  with  a  view  to  the  legitimate  objects  of  the 
Christian  ministry ;  nor  was  he  ever  content  to  preach  with- 
out spiritual  effect.  Hence  he  wielded  "  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit"  in  earnest ;  and  in  every  part  of  the  district,  many 
were  the  trophies  of  his  Christian  prowess. 

His  intercourse  with  the  preachers  of  his  district  was  like 
that  of  a  father  with  his  children,  or  rather  an  elder  broth* 
er's  with  the  family  circle.  He  was  affable  yet  dignified. 
He  studied  in  every  way  to  profit  the  younger  ministers,  by 
exciting  them  to  piety,  and  by  correcting  their  faults.  Yet 
he  always  reproved  so  judiciously  and  kindly  as  to  secure 
esteem  rather  than  give  offence.  Hence  his  company  was 
invariably  both  agreeable  and  edifying.  His  conversation 
was  cheerful,  but  spiritual ;  his  example  such  as  all  might 
imitate.  He  took  great  interest  in  his  preachers,  delight- 
ing in  their  improvement,  and  rejoicing  to  tell  it  for  their 
encouragement.  "Writing  to  a  friend,  he  says,  speaking  of 
one  of  the  ministers,  11  He  is  always  at  his  business,  and 


136 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


works  by  day  and  by  night.  He  preached  yesterday  one  of 
the  most  interesting  discourses  that  I  have  heard  since  Con- 
ference ;  and  I  must  say,  I  heard  but  very  few  at  Confer- 
ence that  equalled  it,  in  my  estimation.  His  manner  is 
something  like  Bishop  George's.  He  has,  to  be  sure,  his 
own  impediments  and  hesitancy  ;  but  he  nils  and  fills  up, 
and  runs  over,  and  baptizes  his  whole  congregation.  O  my 
brother,  what  a  blessed  thing  it  is  to  preach  with  the  holy 
unction  from  above  !" 

It  was  not  unusual  for  him,  when  more  than  ordinary  in- 
terest was  excited  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  remain  a  few 
days  to  foster  the  work,  to  which  he  never  hesitated  about 
sacrificing  his  own  personal  convenience  or  pleasure.  On 
one  of  these  occasions  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Fisk  as  follows  : 

"  Lempster,  N.  H.,  13th  August,  1823. 

"My  Dear  R., 

"  I  have  been  hoping,  ever  since  I  left  Lyndon,  to  spend 
this  week  in  Brattleborough  and  Guildford,  from  whence  I 
designed  to  write  you  particularly,  and  for  that  reason  have 
delayed  writing  until  this  time  ;  but  I  have  been  disappoint- 
ed in  my  calculation.  The  cause,  however,  I  do  not  regret. 
I  came  to  this  town  last  Saturday  to  attend  to  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  for  Unity  Circuit.  I  found  a  good  work  of  refor- 
mation commenced  here,  and  it  w^as  greatly  forwarded  and 
increased  by  the  meeting.  The  excitement  became  so  gen- 
eral, and  the  call  for  labour  so  great,  that  I  concluded  to 
give  up  my  visit  to  my  friends  for  the  present,  and  spend  a 
few  days  with  the  people  here.  I  feel  myself  obliged  to 
forego  every  earthly  consideration  for  the  good  of  the  Church 
and  the  salvation  of  souls.  O  how  glorious  is  the  work  of 
saving  souls  !  I  feel  my  own  soul  fired  anew  in  the  work 
since  I  have  been  here.  Old  and  young,  parents  and  chil- 
dren, are  inquiring  what  they  shall  do  to  be  saved.  I 
scarcely  visit  a  house  without  leaving  them  all  in  tears. 
Last  Sabbath,  after  sacrament,  I  invited  those  who  were 
seeking  their  Saviour  to  come  forward  for  prayers,  and 
numbers  came  from  different  parts  of  the  house,  with  sighs 
and  tears,  while  a  remarkable  solemnity  and  much  wreeping 


REVIVAL  AT  LEMPSTER. 


137 


were  seen  throughout  the  whole  congregation.  I  cannot  tell 
how  many  are  awakened  throughout  the  town ;  but  I  must 
say,  I  have  rarely  seen  a  better  prospect  for  a  general  work 
than  is  now  discoverable  in  this  place.  Pray,  my  dear,  that 
no  adverse  winds  may  scatter  the  clouds  of  mercy  that  hang 
over  the  people.  This  afternoon  I  have  an  inquiring-meet- 
ing for  the  serious-minded,  and  to-morrow  I  am  to  preach 
for  the  last  time  in  the  place.  I  leave  the  people  reluctant- 
ly ;  but  I  must  go  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meeting  on  Ath- 
ens Circuit,  after  which  I  expect  to  spend  a  few  days  in 
Brattleborough  and  Guildford,  and  then  return  towards  the 
north." 

The  following  notice  of  this  revival  is  furnished  by  a  friend : 

"  Of  Dr.  Fisk's  usefulness  while  presiding  elder  on  Ver- 
mont District,  probably  you  are  well  informed.  At  Lemp- 
ster,  N.  H.,  where  I  am  intimately  acquainted,  he  was  in* 
strumental,  in  connexion  with  Rev.  Abram  D.  Merrill,  in 
promoting  the  greatest  revival  which  that  place  has  ever 
witnessed.  The  effect  of  the  doctor's  sermon  on  the  Sab* 
bath  at  Quarterly  Meeting  was  overwhelming.  When  the 
invitation  was  given  for  seekers  of  religion  to  rise  in  the 
congregation,  there  was  a  simultaneous  movement  through- 
out the  house  ;  and  immediately  subsequent  to  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  scores  of  persons  were  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus." 

His  anticipations  as  to  his  secular  prospects  in  this  new 
region,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  prepare 
Mrs.  Fisk  for  her  change  of  situation,  may  be  learned  from 
a  letter  which  he  wrote  her  about  this  time.  The  clergy* 
man's  wife  has  some  things  to  learn  and  to  suffer  as  well 
as  her  husband,  for  she  marries  the  Church  and  its  interests 
when  she  marries  its  servant.  "  When  the  pious  Herbert," 
says  his  quaint  biographer,  "  changed  his  sword  and  silk 
clothes  into  a  canonical  coat,  immediately  after  he  had  seen 
and  saluted  his  wife" — a  noble  lady,  nearly  related  to  the 
Earl  of  Danby — "  he  said  to  her,  '  You  are  now  a  minis* 
12*  S 


138 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ter's  wife,  and  must  now  so  far  forget  your  father's  house 
as  not  to  claim  a  precedence  of  any  of  your  parishioners  ; 
for  you  are  to  know  that  a  priest's  wife  can  challenge  no 
precedence  of  place  but  that  which  she  purchases  by  her 
obliging  humility ;  and  I  am  sure  places  so  purchased  do 
best  become  them  :  and  let  me  tell  you,  I  am  so  good  a  her- 
ald as  to  assure  you  that  this  is  truth.'  And  she  was  so 
meek  a  wife  as  to  assure  him  it  was  no  vexing  news  to  her, 
and  that  he  should  see  her  observe  it  with  a  cheerful  willing- 
ness."— But  to  the  letter.  Those  of  us  who  enjoy  the  great- 
er advantages  and  comforts  of  the  present  day,  may  take  a 
lesson  from  it. 

"  Lyndon,  Sept.  4th,  1823. 
"  On  my  return  to  Lyndon  this  week,  after  having  been  ab- 
sent nearly  six  weeks,  I  found  a  letter  from  you,  which  was 
the  first  intelligence  I  have  had  from  you  since  I  left  Provi- 
dence. I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  your  health  is  so  feeble  ; 
hope  it  is  by  this  time  improved.  Give  yourself  no  uneasi- 
ness about  a  preparation  to  come  among  strangers,  as  you 
term  it ;  you  will  be  as  well  prepared  to  come  as  we  shall 
be  to  receive  you  ;  and  both  the  preparation  and  the  recep- 
tion will  be  good  enough,  if  we  have  a  good  share  of  grace 
and  humility.  The  truth  is,  if  you  should  bring  nothing  we 
should  be  quite  comfortable,  provided  we  can  bring  our- 
selves down  to  our  circumstances.  You  must  give  up  all 
ideas,  my  dear,  of  being  very  particular.  This,  I  perceive, 
will  be  a  hard  lesson  for  you  to  learn ;  but,  through  grace, 
you  will  learn  it.  We  live  not  for  ourselves,  but  for  the 
Church  ;  and  we  must  get  along  in  that  way  that  will  make 
the  Church  the  least  expense,  and  ourselves  the  least  trou- 
ble and  the  most  time.  What  conveniences  we  cannot 
obtain  this  year,  we  will,  if  we  should  live,  try  to  get  next ; 
at  any  rate,  we  will  not  so  far  inconverience  ourselves  for 
the  sake  of  conveniences  as  to  injure  our  health  :  this  would 
be  to  frustrate  our  own  object.  And  what  if  we  should  not 
procure,  while  we  live,  all  the  conveniences  that  appear  de- 
sirable ?  the  time  will  soon  come  that  shall  be  the  last  of 
our  earthly  enjoyments  and  deprivations,  and  then,  if  we  are 


THE  ITINERANT  PREACHER. 


139 


found  faithful,  we  shall  be  welcomed  '  into  the  joy  of  our 
Lord — into  the  mansion  prepared  for  us  above — into  the  in- 
heritance that  is  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
away.'  What  are  all  the  little  privations,  the  temporary 
trials,  the  light  afflictions  of  this  life  ?  they  are  not  worthy 
to  be  compared  with  the  glory  that  shall  follow ;  no,  bless- 
ed be  God,  they  are  not  worth  naming.  Give  me  Christ 
and  his  cross  here,  and  then  shall  I  have  Christ  and  his  glory 
hereafter.  The  world  looks  less  to  me  of  late  than  it  has 
done  in  months  past ;  it  is  like  a  bubble,  and  the  goodliness 
thereof  like  a  fading  flower.  But  Jesus  and  his  love  are 
permanent ;  they  engage  my  soul,  they  fill  my  heart.  My 
joy  below  is  to  feast  upon  a  Saviour's  love  ;  my  business  is 
to  recommend  it  to  others  ;  and  you,  my  dear  companion, 
must  join  me  in  this  sacred  work.  O,  may  God  fire  your 
soul  with  the  subject,  and  loose  your  tongue  upon  the  theme.'7 

In  the  month  of  October  Mr.  Fisk  attended  a  meeting  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Wesleyan  Academy  at  Boston,  and  avail- 
ed himself  of  this  opportunity  of  taking  Mrs.  Fisk  home  to 
his  father's  at  Lyndon,  where  he  intended  to  reside  while  on 
the  district. 

There  was  no  little  romance  in  those  days  in  the  life  of  a 
Methodist  itinerant  minister.  It  was  almost  constantly  di- 
versified by  incident,  amusing,  grotesque,  edifying,  and  not 
unfrequently  elevated.  The  variety  of  persons  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact — lodging  to-night  in  a  palace,  to-morrow 
night  in  a  hut — afforded  a  fine  field  for  the  study  of  human 
nature :  the  extent  of  their  travels  furnished  high  gratifica- 
tion to  the  lover  of  natural  scenery.  He  was  independent 
as  the  Calmuc,  and  free  as  the  mountain  hunter.  True,  he 
encountered  some  hard  fare,  but  not  more  so  than  Washing- 
ton Irving  describes  in  his  Tour  to  the  Prairies.  And  then, 
how  delightful,  by  contrast,  was  the  clean  hearth  and  cheer- 
ful fire  of  the  substantial  farmhouse,  where  every  one  vied 
in  assiduity  to  show  him  kindness,  after  having  been  pelted 
by  the  mountain  storm,  or  half  famished  among  the  semi- 
civilized  mountaineers  to  whom  he  had  been  carrying  the 
Gospel  of  peace !  These  lights  and  shadows  often  diversified 


140 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


the  itinerancy  of  Mr.  Fisk.  Take  the  following  speci- 
mens: 

As  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisk  (it  was  her  first  initiation)  pursued 
their  journey  to  Lyndon,  while  yet  in  the  State  of  New- 
Hampshire,  they  were  on  a  certain  occasion  overtaken  by 
night  before  they  reached  their  intended  stopping-place. 
There  was  a  prospect  of  a  very  dark  night.  Mr.  Fisk  there- 
fore stopped  at  a  comfortable-looking  farmhouse,  and  asked 
if  they  would  entertain  strangers.  "  Yes,"  replied  the  old 
lady  who  opened  the  door,  "  if  you  have  any  religion." 

"  If  we  have  not,"  said  Mr.  Fisk,  "  perhaps  you  can  help 
us  to  some." 

"  O  then,"  was  the  reply,  "  come  in,  come  in,  with  all 
my  heart." 

They  accordingly  passed  the  night  at  the  cottage,  where 
they  were  very  hospitably  entertained.  They  found  their 
hostess  a  rare  specimen  of  primitive  Christianity  :  one  whose 
walk  seemed  to  be  in  the  very  precincts  of  a  better  world. 
In  the  morning  our  traveller  was  invited  to  lead  the  devo- 
tions of  the  family,  which  he  did  with  such  fervour  and  elo- 
quence that  the  good  old  lady  was  completely  melted  down  ; 
and  when  he  closed,  she  in  her  turn  began,  and  poured  out 
her  heart  in  such  strains  of  humble  love  and  devout  praise 
as  showed  a  soul  in  close  communion  with  the  skies.  When 
her  guests  left  the  house  she  followed  them  to  the  door,  cry- 
ing after  them,  "  God  bless  thee,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord ; 
continue  faithful,  and  God  will  hold  thee  in  his  right  hand  !" 
There  are  some  who  will  not  be  surprised  to  hear  that  this 
was  Mrs.  Fletcher,  of  Unity,  N.  H.,  long  known  as  an  "  Is- 
raelite indeed,  in  whom  there  was  no  guile."  She  and  her 
strange  guest  are  now  the  inhabitants  of  the  blessed  abodes, 

"  Where  all  things  that  are  lovely  meet, 
And  all  things  that  are  pure." 

The  following  is  a  scene  from  nature  :  Going  to  one  of 
his  appointments  with  Mrs.  Fisk,  their  route  lay  across  a 
lofty  range  dignified  with  the  classical  name  of  Mount 
Olympus.  When  they  commenced  the  ascent  the  snow  was 
falling  thick  and  fast,  and  there  was  every  prospect  of  a 
stormy  and  uncomfortable  ride  ;  but  when  they  got  midway 


HIS  BENEVOLENCE. 


141 


to  the  top,  the  snow  ceased,  and  dense  clouds  settling  below, 
obscured  the  view  on  all  sides.  Above,  the  sun  was  veiled 
by  a  thin  cloud,  as  if  to  Screen  its  dazzling  brightness,  and 
make  their  way  more  pleasant.  Descending,  they  found, 
Avhen  about  half  way  down  the  mountain,  that  it  was  still 
snowing  as  fast  as  ever,  and  that  much  snow  had  fallen 
while  they  were  enjoying  their  ride  above  the  clouds.  Such 
scenes  are  not  uncommon  in  mountainous  regions. 

Mr.  Fisk's  benevolence  has  been  several  times  mentioned. 
This  was  not  confined  to  mankind;  it  included  also  the  brute 
creation.  He  could  not  give  needless  pain  to  any  living 
thing.  He  was  very  careful  of  his  horse,  and  the  horse,  in 
turn,  seemed  greatly  attached  to  his  master,  which  he  would 
make  known  unequivocally  by  neighing  and  pawing  the 
ground  at  the  sound  of  his  voice,  or  of  his  peculiar  and  well- 
known  cough.  Of  his  father's  dog  he  was  not  less  a  favour- 
ite. An  instance  of  canine  sagacity  is  not  unworthy  of  rela- 
tion: Mr.  Fisk  was  absent  at  a  certain  time,  and  was  not 
expected  home  for  some  days.  One  evening,  Diamond,  the 
dog,  came  running  and  panting  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  put  his  feet 
upon  her  lap,  wagged  his  tail,  and  showed  by  every  speak- 
ing sign  his  anxiety  to  communicate  something.  Not  seem- 
ing to  be  understood,  he  ran  off,  but  soon  returned  again  in 
the  same  manner,  and  again  bounded  away.  Feeling  now 
alarmed,  Mrs.  Fisk  followed  him  to  the  door,  and  soon  heard 
Mr.  Fisk's  cough.  At  the  sound  Diamond  showed  more 
glee  than  ever,  leaping  up,  licking  her  hands,  &c,  and  then 
away  he  ran  to  meet  Mr.  Fisk,  who  was  still  near  half  a  mile 
distant.  He  followed  him  home,  kept  close  to  him,  eagerly 
looking  for  his  caresses  until  he  was  noticed. 

In  the  course  of  this  year  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Good- 
win, from  which  we  present  an  extract : 

"December  17. 

"  My  spiritual  health  is  gaining  a  little  :  on  this  subject 
I  could  say  much,  but  I  forbear.  You  are  too  well  acquaint- 
ed with  my  unworthiness  and  deficiencies  in  the  service  of 
God.  I  would  be  glad  to  see  my  children  rising  to  a  higher 
standing  in  the  divine  life  than  I  have  attained  unto,  and 


142 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


hold  all  they  gain  much  faster  than  I  have  done.  It  is  a 
great  attainment  to  get  blessings  of  a  spiritual  nature,  but 
still  greater  to  retain  them. 

"  '  Happy  the  man  who  wisdom  gains  ; 
Thrice  happy  who  his  guest  retains.' 

If,  through  the  whole  of  my  Christian  life,  I  had  practised 
the  maxim  of  the  miser,  4  Keep  what  you  have,  and  get 
what  you  can,'  I  should  by  this  time  have  been  very  rich  : 
but  I  have  not ;  I  have  too  often  lost  great  blessings,  and 
overlooked  and  squandered  away  small  ones.  I  mention 
this,  my  dear  sister,  that  you  and  yours  may  profit  by  my 
errors.  Let  me  entreat  you  to  be  saving  of  your  small 
gains ;  Christians  generally  lose  more  by  not  attending  to 
this  than  they  are  aware  of.  Most  earthly  estates  are  accumu- 
lated by  small  gains  ;  and  a  man  in  any  business  generally 
thrives  in  proportion  as  he  is  saving  of  his  littles.  How  many 
in  this  way,  though  they  began  with  but  small  capitals,  have 
in  a  few  years  become  wealthy  :  so  might  the  Christian  ;  and 
so  some  do.  I  have  seen  in  a  few  cases  a  constant,  though 
almost  imperceptible,  march  towards  holiness,  until  the  weak- 
est among  God's  people  have  '  become  as  David.'  If  we 
follow  the  light  as  it  is  made  known  to  us  ;  if  we  deny  our- 
selves, as  we  see  by  our  increasing  light  that  our  indulgen- 
ces are  improper  ;  if,  as  we  gain  a  little  ground,  we  fix  our 
stake,  and  determine  we  will  not  be  driven  back  beyond  it, 
how  sure  and  regular  our  advances  towards  Heaven !  on  the 
contrary,  if  we  improve  not  the  grace  given,  our  light  be- 
comes darkness.  We  can  plead  for  what  we  once  rejected, 
and  neglect  what  we  formerly  could  not.  4  Despise  not  the 
day  of  small  things.' 

"  We  have  had  a  good  reformation  on  Lyndon  Circuit,  es- 
pecially in  the  town  of  Burke  ;  about  thirty  there  have  late- 
ly joined  society,  and  a  number  more  have  professed  conver- 
sion. Some  of  our  circuits  are  low.  I  sometimes  grow  sick 
of  professing  Christians  (many  of  them,  I  mean),  because 
there  is  so  much  uncharitableness  among  them  ;  so  many  evil 
surmisings,  little  envyings,  and  bitter  jealousies  :*  O,  when  will 

*  How  often  has  the  devout  mind  to  say  with  the  pious  Cecil,  "  I  have  seen 
gtich  sin  in  the  Church,  that  I  have  often  been  brought  by  it  to  a  sickly  state  of 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1824. 


143 


that  '  charity  that  hopeth  all  things,'  at  least  of  our  breth- 
ren, generally  prevail  ?  not  until  unholy  self  is  crucified  j 
not  until  self-seeking  and  earthly-interested  views  are  laid 
aside,  and  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  the  Church  be 
the  ruling  motive  of  the  soul.  This  can  be  done  only  by  our 
doctrine  of  Christian  holiness  :  I  love  this  doctrine ;  yet, 
I  confess  to  my  shame,  I  enjoy  less  of  it  than  I  once  did, 
notwithstanding  some  have  abused  and  dishonoured  it,  and 
others  despise  it ;  still,  I  know  it  to  be  the  doctrine  of  the 
Bible,  the  truth  of  God,  and  the  only  doctrine  that  can  save 
the  Church.  O  that  I  were  inspired  with  holy  zeal  to 
preach  it !" 

At  the  preceding  session  of  the  New-England  Conference, 
Mr.  Fisk  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference, 
held  this  year  (1824)  in  May,  in  the  City  of  Baltimore.  He 
left  home  on  this  business  the  latter  part  of  April,  spending 
a  few  days  in  New- York,  where,  by  previous  invitation,  he 
addressed  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  at  their  anniversary  held  April  23d,  in  John- 
street.  Many  will  remember  this  meeting  with  interest, 
from  the  fact  that  the  eloquent  Summerfield,  and  the  Rev. 
John  (now  Dr.)  Hannah,  the  associate  of  the  Rev.  R.  Reece, 
representative  from  the  British  Wesleyan  Conference  to  the 
General  Conference  in  the  United  States,  and  whose  minis- 
try was  so  highly  acceptable  to  our  churches,  were  among 
the  speakers  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Fisk,  in  a  letter  to  Mrs. 
Fisk,  dated  New-York,  April  26th,  speaks  of  this  meeting 
thus : 

"  I  performed  my  part  probably  without  much  honour  to 
myself;  but  that  is  of  little  consequence.  It  is  more  to  be 
regretted  that  some  abler  hand  (tongue  ?)  had  not  pleaded 
the  cause  of  missions  ;  however,  a  number  followed  me  in 
interesting  and  edifying  addresses.  The  other  speakers 
were  Messrs.  Brown,  Reed,  Case,  (Hannah),  and  Summer- 
mind.  But  when  I  have  turned  to  the  world,  I  have  seen  sin  working  there  in 
such  measures  and  forms,  that  I  have  turned  back  again  to  the  Church  with  more 
wisdom  of  mind  and  affection  for  it— tainted  as  it  is."—  Cecil's  Remains, 


144 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


field.  (He  arrived  in  the  city  the  day  before  me.)  A  col- 
lection was  taken*  of  about  $160  or  $170.  The  work  of 
the  Lord  is  going  on  gloriously  among  the  Indians,  as  you 
will  see  by  the  Magazine.  It  makes  me  think  of  apostolic 
times,  when  the  Gospel  was  first  preached  to  the  heathens." 

This  was  Mr.  Fisk's  first  initiation  into  the  missionary 
work.  He  caught  the  impulse  of  the  occasion,  and,  as  his 
sympathies  enkindled  and  his  views  enlarged,  he  became  an 
efficient  labourer  in  the  field.  This  we  shall  see  hereafter. 
The  address  delivered  by  him  at  this  meeting  was  published 
in  Zion's  Herald. 

The  General  Conference  of  1824  is  memorable  for  the 
warm  discussions  called  forth  by  what  is  known  as  the  Rad- 
ical Controversy.  From  divided  sentiments  on  doctrinal 
points  we  have  very  fortunately  been  preserved,  but  on 
church  government  we  have  had  various  controversies  ;  and 
the  very  few,  and  mostly  unimportant  schisms  that  have  oc- 
curred among  us,  have  all  been  on  this  account,  or  from  per- 
sonal grievances,  real  or  supposed.  The  points  under  dis- 
cussion at  this  time  related  to  a  representation  of  the  laity 
and  of  the  local  preachers  in  our  ecclesiastical  bodies,  and 
the  mode  of  appointing  the  presiding  elders.  This  discus- 
sion had  not  attracted  very  much  attention  in  New-Eng- 
land ;  but  in  the  Southern,  Middle,  and  Western  States  it  had 
been  carried  on  with  great  spirit  and  some  acrimony.  On 
these  subjects  the  General  Conference  received  numerous 
petitions  and  memorials,  some  demanding,  others  depreca- 
ting alterations  in  the  Discipline.  Mr.  Fisk,  though  in  fa- 
vour of  making  the  presiding  elders  elective,  was  decidedly 
opposed  to  a  lay  delegation.  As  he  was  always  remarkable 
for  his  republican  views,  some  reason  for  what  some  may 
consider  an  inconsistency  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

Those  who  think  the  government  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  anti-republican,  cannot  be  aware  how  limited 
is  the  power  of  her  clergy.    It  is  not  known  to  all  that  they 

*  It  is  difficult  to  say  how  this  expression  came  into  such  general  use.  We 
cannot  but  wish,  for  the  sake  of  good  English,  that  the  word  made  would  super- 
sede it. 


THE  RADICAL  CONTROVERSY. 


145 


are  entirely  dependant  on  the  people  for  their  support.  If 
they  have  fixed  their  own  claim  or  salaries,  it  is  still  only 
advisory ;  merely  an  estimate — and  who  will  not  say  a  re- 
markably modest  one  ? — of  what  is  necessary  for  their  main- 
tenance, but  which  the  people  can  withhold  at  their  option. 
The  clergy  have  no  method  of  enforcing  payment.  It  should 
also  be  considered  that  the  ministry  originate  with  the  peo- 
ple. No  minister  can  be  made  without  examination  and 
recommendation  by  the  inferior  judicatories  composed  of 
laymen  ;  and,  indeed,  our  Leaders'  Meetings,  held  monthly, 
the  Board  of  Stewards,  and  our  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ences, secure  to  our  people  a  balance  of  power  against  the 
clergy,  as  effectual  as  could  be  secured  by  any  lay  delega- 
tion without  them.  I  should  run  no  risk  in  saying  that  the 
power  of  the  laity  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is 
greater  than  in  any  other  denomination,  excepting  only  the 
Quakers,  who,  however,  by  their  views  of  the  ministry,  can 
hardly  be  brought  to  the  comparison.  Even  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  ministers  is  not  as  arbitrary  as  it  appears  on  a 
partial  view,  since  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the  people  are 
made  known  to  the  bishop  by  the  presiding  elders  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  stations.  The  requests  of  the  people 
always  receive  attention,  and  all  things  are  adjusted  for 
the  general  accommodation.  Bishop  Asbury,  who  exercised 
more  power  than  any  other  incumbent  of  the  episcopal  chair, 
was  always  very  tenacious,  as  I  have  heard  from  those  who 
knew  him,  of  the  people's  right  to  petition  ;  but  on  this  point 
there  has  been  no  wish  for  an  alteration.  The  people  prefer 
this  mode  of  appointment  as,  on  the  whole,  best  adapted  to 
our  wants  ;  and  if  there  have  been  occasional  dissatisfaction, 
it  has  generally  been  borne  quietly,  from  regard  to  the  good 
of  the  Church.  It  also  deserves  to  be  noticed,  by  the  way, 
that  no  member  can  be  expelled  from  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  without  a  regular  trial  before  a  committee  of  his 
peers,  with  the  right  of  being  confronted  with  his  accuser. 

This  controversy,  moreover,  did  not  take  its  origin  from 
the  private  members  of  the  Church  :  it  originated  with  the 
local  preachers,  especially  among  those  who  had  left  the 
travelling  connexion,  and  by  thus  losing  a  large  share  of 
13  T 


146 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


their  influence  and  consideration,  became  restless  and  dis- 
satisfied: and  when  once  they  had  thrown  out  suspicions  and 
complaints,  it  was  not  wonderful  that  they  were  eagerly 
caught  at,  and  a  theory  which  had  not  been  fully  examined 
by  the  people,  should  be  subjected  to  a  rigid  investigation. 
The  government  of  the  United  States  was  not  organized 
without  rigid,  ample,  and  protracted  scrutiny,  and  a  very 
searching  controversy.  These  remarks  are  not  made  by 
any  means  in  disparagement  of  the  local  preachers,  certainly 
a  useful,  honourable,  disinterested  class  of  men  ;  I  give  them 
only  as  belonging  to  the  history  of  the  Church,  and  neces- 
sary to  explain  the  conduct  of  our  subject.* 

The  Presiding  Elder  Question,  as  it  was  called,  was,  wheth- 
er the  presiding  elders  should  be  elected  by  the  conferences, 
or  appointed  by  the  bishop  ?  It  was  determined  that  render- 
ing them  elective  would  present  such  temptations  to  intrigue, 
favouritism,  time-serving,  and  jealousy,  that  it  was  safer  to 
leave  it  as  it  was. 

These  questions  were  debated  in  the  General  Conference 
with  a  good  deal  of  earnestness  and  some  warmth  of  feeling, 
though  not  with  any  flagrant  violation  of  Christian  charity. 
But  in  a  Methodist  Conference,  so  remarkable  for  calmness, 
mutual  deference,  and  fraternal  affection,  it  was  uncommon; 

*  The  views  in  the  text  are  confirmed  by  a  letter  Mr.  Fisk  received  the  suc- 
ceeding year  (1825),  an  extract  from  which  illustrates  the  spirit  that  originated 
this  unhappy  controversy.  After  inquiring,  Have  you  ever  considered  "what  an 
important  station  a  local  preacher  fills  in  our  Church  V  and  complaining  bitterly 
of  their  having  no  share  in  the  government,  and  asserting  that  he  had  "letter 
upon  letter  sent  him  on  this  subject,"  the  writer  adds,  "If  this  fire  explode,  I 
fear  it  will  not  end  in  smoke  ;  I  have  my  unconquerable  attachments  to  the 
Methodist"  (Church)  "  (though  perhaps  you  have  known  that  I  am  not  much  in- 
clined to  Episcopacy),  yet  I  am  a.  located  preacher,  and,  of  course,  have  no  part,  ei- 
ther directly  or  indirectly,  in  the  management  or  government  of  the  Methodist 
Church.    But  I  say  no  more  at  present." 

He  seems  to  have  forgotten  the  Quarterly  Conference,  the  Leaders'  Meetings, 
and  the  Board  of  Stewards,  of  the  first  of  which  he  was  necessarily  a  member, 
and  was  certainly  eligible  to  both  the  others ;  or  else  he  forgot  the  strong  "  in- 
direct" influence,  at  least,  which  these  exert  over  "the  government  of  the 
Church."  I  hope,  again,  that  I  shall  not  be  understood  as  disparaging  a  class  of 
men  whom  I  have  such  abundant  reason  to  esteem.  The  spirit  apparent  in  the 
above  extract,  so  far  as  I  know,  has  entirely  passed  away,  and  local  preachers,  a3 
well  as  people,  are  well  satisfied  of  the  wisdom  and  excellence  of  our  ecclesias- 
tical institutions. 


LETTER  TO  HON.  B.  F.  DEMING. 


147 


and  to  a  delicately  pious  mind  it  could  not  fail  to  be  painful. 
Mr.  Fisk  found  but  little  satisfaction  in  attending  the  delib- 
erations. His  feelings  may  be  seen,  in  part,  in  the  ensuing 
passage  of  a  letter  to  his  friend,  the  Hon.  B.  F.  Deming  : 

"  Baltimore,  May  26th,  1824. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

"I  have  waited  thus  long  with  the  hope  of  having  some- 
thing of  importance  to  write  to  you  ;  but,  truly,  we  have  done 
business  so  slowly  and  so  badly,  I  can  hardly  give  you  much, 
even  at  this  late  period,  that  will  be  entertaining.  But  I  can 
tell  you  some  things  which  we  have  not  done.  We  have 
not  done,  and  shall  not  do,  anything  towards  a  lay  or  local 
delegation,  though  we  have  had  many  petitions  to  that  ef- 
fect. Even  the  advocates  of  such  measures  think,  I  believe, 
that  things  are  not  ripe  for  such  a  change.  We  have  not 
been  agreed  on  scarcely  any  measure.  We  are  divided  into 
two  great  parties,  nearly  equal :  one  party  thinks  some  of 
our  Discipline  might  be  altered  for  the  better ;  the  other  is 
so  afraid  of  reform  or  alteration,  that  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  get  a  single  alteration  in  any  point.  Here  we  stand  and 
debate,  and  do  almost  nothing.  However,  we  have  done 
something  ;  we  have  modified  the  District  Conferences  so 
that,  if  any  district  choose,  they  may  refuse  to  meet,  and  in 
that  case  the  business  all  reverts  back  into  our  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conferences.  We  have  made  some  salutary  altera- 
tions in  the  Book  Concern  ;  also  in  our  missionary  system. 
These,  however,  are  of  minor  importance.  We  have,  or, 
rather,  a  majority  have,  passed  a  resolution  revoking  the  sus- 
pended resolutions,  as  they  are  called,  on  the  Presiding  El- 
der Question  ;  it  has  passed  to  once  reading,  and.  will  prob- 
ably finally  pass.  This  has  caused  much  excitement  and 
much  warm  debate.  I  will  be  more  particular  if  God  spare 
me  to  see  you  ;  and  may  that  day  be  hastened  !  I  am  tired 
of  this  business,  and  long  to  be  back  again  to  my  work.  A 
camp-meeting  is  a  Heaven  compared  with  a  General  Con- 
ference ;  still,  it  is  thought,  all  things  considered,  we  have 
got  on  with  but  little  excitement  and  acrimony,  compared 
with  what  might  have  been.  We  shall  rise  the  last  of  this 
week." 


148 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUIt  F1SK. 


His  estimate  of  himself  is  exhibited  in  the  same  letter. 
After  alluding  to  some  of  the  more  distinguished  preachers 
whom  he  had  heard,  he  proceeds: 

"  We  have,  indeed,  many  able  preachers,  and  I  lose  sight 
of  my  own  gifts  among  them,  as  comparatively  unworthy  of 
notice  ;  but  my  gifts  are  such  as  God  has  given  me,  and  on 
this  account  I  ought  to  prize  them.  I  cannot  be  great ;  I 
may  be  good,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  may  be  useful." 

Mr.  Fisk  was  one  of  the  committee  to  draught  a  reply  to 
the  address  of  the  British  Conference,  sent  by  the  hands  of 
their  worthy  representative,  the  Rev.  Richard  Reece.  This 
document  is  Mr.  Fisk's  production.  It  is  admirably  chaste, 
beautiful,  and  appropriate.  One  or  two  passages  we  in- 
troduce, because  they  serve  to  throw  light  on  what  will 
soon  become  a  peculiarly  distinct  feature  in  his  character. 
We  allude  to  his  missionary  spirit.  In  responding  to  the 
sentiments  of  our  British  brethren  on  Missions,  he  said, 
"  We  are  also  following  you,  though  at  humble  distance,  in 
your  missionary  exertions.  But  such  is  the  extent,  and  in- 
creasing extent,  of  our  work  here,  that  we  cannot  find  means 
nor  men  for  foreign  missions.  The  increase  of  our  popu- 
lation is  unparalleled ;  and  it  is  widely  scattered  over  an 
extensive  continent.  To  keep  pace  with  it  under  such  cir- 
cumstances requires  much  labour  and  much  privation.  In 
addition  to  this,  the  Lord,  as  you  have  heard,  has  opened 
for  us  a  great  and  effectual  door  among  the  aborigines  of 
our  country.  These  we  dare  not  neglect.  They  are  our 
neighbours,  and  we  must  minister  unto  them ;  they  have 
been  injured,  and  we  must  make  them  reparation  ;  they  are 
savages,  and  must  be  civilized.  All  this  shall  be  done  if 
God  permit.  We  have  the  work  much  at  heart,  and  hope 
and  pray  for  success.  In  addition  to  this,  we  have  entailed 
upon  us,  in  several  of  our  states,  a  degraded  and  enslaved 
population,  whose  situation  is  making,  if  possible,  a  still 
stronger  claim  upon  our  Christian  philanthropy.  And,  final- 
ly, the  way  seems  to  be  opening  for  missionary  exertions  in 
Mexico  and  South  America. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  BRITISH  CONFERENCE. 


149 


"  With  these  fields  of  labour  in  the  midst  of  us  and  round 
about  us,  you  cannot  expect  us  to  join  you  in  the  great  and 
good  work  in  which  you  are  engaged  in  the  East.  Still,  we 
hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we  shall  join  hands  on 
the  Asiatic  shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  are  constantly 
advancing  our  labours  towards  the  West,  and  you  are  ex- 
tending towards  the  East,  not  only  on  the  Continent,  but 
over  the  islands  of  the  sea.  Is  it  chimerical,  then,  to  suppose, 
that  at  some  future  day  we  shall  have  encompassed  this 
earth,  and  girded  it  round  with  glorious  bands  of  Gospel 
truth  ?    O  no,  Faith  says  it  shall  be  done." 

Not  less  characteristic  of  our  subject  are  the  following  sen- 
timents of  the  same  document :  "  And  while  we  are  en- 
larging our  work  and  multiplying  our  numbers,  we  trust  we 
have  not  forgotten  that  the  great  design  of  Methodism,  the 
ultimate  end  of  all  its  institutions,  is  to  raise  up  and  preserve, 
in  the  midst  of  a  sinful  world,  a  holy  people.  Without  this, 
numbers  and  influence  are  nothing.  We  deprecate,  more 
than  anything  else,  that  ecclesiastical  pride  which  builds 
itself  up  upon  the  numbers  and  popularity  of  the  Church, 
while  that  Church  is  sinking  in  the  spirit  and  tone  of  the  Di- 
vine life.  From  such  a  state  of  things,  we,  on  both  sides  of 
the  water,  are  doubtless  united  in  saying,  1  Lord,  preserve 
us ;  make  us  holy,  and  make  us  instrumental  in  spreading 
holiness  throughout  the  earth.'  " 

While  in  Baltimore  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  dated 
May  22,  from  which  we  present  an  extract,  as  follows : 

"My  dear  R., 

"  I  am  not  unconscious  of  the  various  feelings  and  exercises 
of  your  mind,  many  of  them  unpleasant,  and  perhaps  pain- 
ful, during  my  absence,  especially  in  your  poor  state  of 
health ;  but  I  feel  a  satisfaction  in  the  reflection  that  you 
are  among  friends  who  can  sympathize  with  you  and  pro- 
vide for  you ;  and,  above  all,  that  you  are  in  the  hands  of 
Divine  Providence,  affords  the  highest  consolation  :  and  here 
I  rest  with  full  confidence.  The  same  Providence  that  sup- 
ports us  when  together,  and  without  which  even  our  mutual 
aids  and  counsel  would  amount  to  nothing,  has  an  equal 
13* 


150 


LIFE  OP  WILLBUR  FISK. 


power  and  an  equal  tenderness  for  us  under  all  circumstan- 
ces and  in  all  places  :  that  Providence  has  hitherto  been 
with  me  since  I  left  home,  though  amid  many  mercies  I  have 
had  some  slight  afflictions.  I  took  some  cold  before  I  left 
New- York,  which  increased  so  much  when  I  got  to  Phila- 
delphia as  induced  me  to  stop  two  or  three  days  in  that  city. 
"With  some  improvement  of  health  I  pursued  my  journey  to 
this  place,  but  continued  ill  after  my  arrival,  so  that  I  did 
not  attend  Conference  for  about  one  week,  when  I  got  able 
to  attend,  and  have  ever  since  been  gaining.  I  am  now  in 
comfortable  health,  but  my  soul  is  sick — sick,  I  mean,  of  the 
duties  and  controversies  of  the  General  Conference.  I  shall 
be  glad,  heartily  glad,  when  I  get  to  my  work  again  on  the 
Green  Mountains  :  not  but  I  would  be  willing  to  submit  to 
the  drudgery  of  this  business,  if  I  could  thereby  benefit  the 
Church  ;  but  the  truth  is,  our  views  are  so  different  and  so 
various,  and  our  mutual  jealousies — I  say  this  to  our  shame — 
are  so  great,  that  we  can  do  nothing — nothing  that  relates  to 
the  great  and  essential  concerns  of  the  Church.  "We  have 
passed  some  resolutions  that  respect  private  and  local  ques- 
tions, but  nothing  else  is  done  ;  little  or  nothing  else  will  be 
done.  O,  when  shall  we  have  peace  ?  Not,  I  fear,  until 
the  Church  is  torn  and  rent  by  schisms.  However,  I  hope 
for  the  best ;  and  perhaps,  by  the  interposition  of  that  Prov- 
idence under  whose  fostering  care  Methodism  has  attained 
to  its  present  high  standing,  we  may  yet  be  bound  together 
by  the  cords  of  love  in  the  great  work  of  saving  souls." 


HIS  LABOURS. 


151 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Continued  Presiding  Elder. — Incident. — Letters  of  Condolence. — Mysticism. — 
General  Lafayette. — Incident. — Aid  to  Young  Ministers. — School  of  the 
Prophets. — Traits  of  Character. — Incident. 

Mr.  Fisk  was  reappointed  the  two  succeeding  years,  viz., 
1824  and  1825,  to  the  office  of  presiding  elder,  and  contin- 
ued to  discharge  his  duties  with  unabated  ardour  and  faith- 
fulness. The  ministers  under  him  also  laboured  zealously 
and  with  success.  These  were  years  of  great  and  general 
prosperity  throughout  the  Vermont  District. 

He  was  also  a  trustee  of  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  which, 
as  before  intimated,  was  to  be  established  at  Wilbraham. 
To  meet  the  board  was  often  very  inconvenient,  requiring 
long  journeys  ;  yet  he  always  attended  them,  and  that  with- 
out missing  his  appointments,  though  he  frequently  had  to 
travel  in  the  night.  He  also  acted  personally  as  an  agent 
in  soliciting  funds  for  the  institution. 

During  his  service  on  the  district,  also,  the  missionary 
cause  was  not  allowed  to  slumber.  He  brought  it  before 
the  people  in  sermons,  at  love-feasts,  and  other  meetings, 
and  had  the  pleasure  of  awakening  the  attention  of  many  to 
the  subject.  The  same  may  be  said  of  our  other  benevolent 
institutions. 

While  Mr.  Fisk  was  on  the  district,  Mrs.  F.  frequently 
accompanied  him  to  his  appointments,  and  was  thus  a  par- 
ticipator in  his  dangers  as  well  as  enjoyments. 

In  the  summer  of  1824,  when  they  were  travelling  to- 
gether, one  evening  they  were  overtaken  by  a  terrific  thun- 
der-storm. The  heavens  were  black  with  clouds,  the  night 
was  already  closing  in,  and  they  had  yet  eight  miles  to  go 
to  the  nearest  stopping-place.  We  give  the  scene  nearly 
in  Mrs.  Fisk's  own  words  : 

"  My  dear  husband  being  familiar  with  the  road,  we 
thought  it  best  to  continue  our  journey.    The  storm  and 


152 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


darkness  increased.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents.  We  enter- 
ed a  piece  of  woods,  and  went  but  a  short  distance,  when  he 
observed,  '  We  must  be  out  of  our  road  :  from  the  sound, 
our  carriage- wheels  are  on  bushes.'  We  could  not  discern 
the  least  thing  ;  it  was,  indeed,  '  darkness  visible.'  The 
lightning  glimmered  only  at  long  intervals  in  the  distance. 
Giving  me  the  reins,  Mr.  Fisk  got  out  of  the  carriage,  and 
with  his  hands  felt  for  the  wheel-ruts;  but  finding  none,  and 
perceiving,  as  he  suspected,  that  the  wheels  were  on  broken 
bushes,  for  a  short  time  we  remained  stationary,  when  a  ter- 
rific peal  of  thunder  rolled  over  our  heads,  accompanied  with 
a  brilliant  flash  of  lightning,  which  struck  a  tall  tree  not  very 
far  from  us,  and  shattered  it  from  top  to  bottom  with  a  tre- 
mendous crash ;  but  it  enabled  us  to  see  where  we  were,  and 
we  found  that  we  had  wandered  half  a  mile  from  the  main 
road  into  the  woods.  The  lightning  now  became  more  fre- 
quent, and  during  its  flashes  Mr.  F.  was  enabled  to  lead  his 
horse  back  to  the  road,  stopping  when  the  lightning  disap- 
peared, for  it  seemed  only  to  render  the  darkness  '  such  as 
might  be  felt.'  We  continued  in  this  way  three  miles  on  our 
journey,  Mr.  F.  leading  his  horse  ;  and  at  length,  at  half  past 
ten  o'clock,  found  admission  into  a  comfortable  farmhouse. 

"  In  the  midst  of  this  terrific  scene,  my  dear  husband  pos- 
sessed the  utmost  calmness  and  confidence  in  God.  Amid 
the  warring  elements,  you  could  hear  his  sweet  voice  singing 
these  beautiful  lines  of  Watts  : 

"  '  The  God  that  rules  on  high, 

That  thunders  when  he  please, 
That  rides  upon  the  stormy  sky, 

And  manages  the  seas  : 
This  awful  God  is  ours, 

Our  Father  and  our  love  ; 
He  will  send  down  his  heavenly  powers 

To  carry  us  above  ;' 

and  frequently  calling  to  me,  as  he  stood  by  the  head  of  his 
horse  in  total  darkness,  1  Yes,  this  awful  God  is  ours.'  " 

If  there  were  any  one  trait  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Fisk 
that  shone  more  brightly  than  another,  it  was  that  kindness 
of  disposition  which  led  him  to  participate  in  the  joys  and 
sorrows  of  others.    His  heart  was  keenly  alive  to  every 


LETTER  OF  CONDOLENCE. 


153 


touch  of  sympathy.  To  this,  in  no  small  degree,  was  ow- 
ing the  hold  he  had  upon  the  affections  of  his  friends.  A 
letter  which  we  here  insert  bears  some  testimony  to  our  re- 
mark. With  the  lady  to  whom  it  was  addressed  he  enjoyed 
some  acquaintance,  and  had  partaken  of  the  hospitalities  of 
her  house  while  passing  through  his  circuit  or  district.  For 
her  and  her  husband,  Judge  Williams,  he  ever  entertained  a 
sincere  regard.  Hearing  of  the  death  of  her  father,  the  ex- 
cellent Mr.  George  Warner,  of  New- York  City,  he  wrote  to 
her  as  follows : 

•  Randolph,  April  7th,  1825. 
"  In  a  visit  to  the  north  part  of  the  state,  I  was  informed 
of  your  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  your  worthy  father  ; 
worthy,  I  say,  because  this  is  the  character  that  all  give  him, 
who  knew  him,  with  whom  I  have  spoken  on  the  subject. 
For  myself,  I  had  not  the  honour  or  pleasure  of  his  acquaint- 
ance ;  I  had  expected  this,  but  the  time  is  now  past ;  I  can 
never  know  him  in  the  flesh.  But  if  I  be  so  happy  as  to  make 
one  among  the  saints  of  light,  I  expect  to  meet  your  honour- 
ed father  there,  and  have  the  pleasure  of  forming  a  heaven- 
ly acquaintance  with  him,  unless,  as  Mr.  Whitefield  said  of 
Mr.  Wesley,  he  should  be  honoured  with  a  place  so  much 
nearer  the  throne  than  myself,  that  I  should  scarcely  be  able 
to  see  him.  This,  however,  is  hardly  a  consistent  supposition ; 
for,  however  rich  in  faith  he  was,  and  however  superior  his 
reward  may  be,  there  will  doubtless  be  no  indistinctness  of 
vision  in  Heaven  ;  we  shall  then  all  see  as  we  are  seen,  and 
i  know  as  we  are  known.'  But  should  we  need  there,  as  we 
do  here,  an  introduction  to  those  who  were  before  strangers, 
by  a  third  person,  you,  I  expect,  will  be  there,  and  will  make 
us  acquainted  in  Christ's  kingdom.  I  am  expecting,  indeed, 
and  praying  that  your  affliction  will  contribute  much  towards 
preparing  you  for  that  kingdom.  You  have  lost  another  tie 
that  bound  you  to  earth,  and  have  gained  another  cord  to 
draw  you  to  Heaven.  You  are  also  hereby  taught  how 
groundless  are  all  our  hopes  of  happiness  built  on  earthly 
good.    You  can  therefore  sing,  with  more  feeling  than  ever, 

"  '  Nothing  on  earth  T  call  my  own ; 
A  stranger  to  the  world  unknown, 

u 


154 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


I  all  their  goods  despise  ; 
I  trample  on  their  whole  delight, 
And  seek  a  city  out  of  sight, 

A  city  in  the  skies. 

There  is  my  house  and  portion  fair ; 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there, 

And  my  abiding  home  : 
For  me  my  elder  brethren  stay, 
And  angels  beckon  me  away, 

And  Jesus  bids  me  come.' 

"  Had  I  seen  you  when  your  heart  was  bleeding  under  the 
recent  stroke  that  severed  the  tenderest  ties  of  nature,  it 
would  have  been  my  imperative  duty  as  a  minister  and  ser- 
vant of  Christ,  and  my  highest,  though  mournful  pleasure 
as  a  friend,  to  have  attempted  at  least  to  administer  conso- 
lation to  your  soul.  But  you  have  had  time  to  reflect ;  you 
have  had  time  to  pray.  The  first  and  most  furious  blast  of 
the  storm  has  gone  by :  and  in  the  melancholy  pause  that 
has  succeeded,  though  you  have  had  time  more  deliberately 
to  reflect  on  your  loss,  and  every  object  around  you  is  cal- 
culated to  add  an  additional  pang  to  your  pained  bosom, 
still  you  also  have  had  time  to  call  in  religion  to  your  aid. 
You  have  called  to  mind  all  those  precious  Scriptures  that 
assert  the  special  providence  and  fatherly  care  of  your  God. 
You  have  prayed  again  and  again,  '  Not  my  will,  but  thine 
be  done,'  until  the  soul,  with  sweet  acquiescence  and  filial 
resignation,  most  sincerely  responds  to  the  sentiment,  and 
God's  will  to  you  is  all  and  in  all.  What  remains  but  that 
you  1  reckon  yourself  dead  indeed  unto  the  world,  but  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord ;'  and,  in  agree- 
ment with  this,  make  the  best  possible  use  of  the  remainder 
of  life,  and  of  life's  blessings,  which  God  has  put  into  your 
hands ;  that  when  you  fail  on  earth,  not  only  your  beloved 
father,  but  all  who  have  been  honoured  with  your  acquaint- 
ance or  shared  in  your  benevolence, i  may  welcome  you  into 
everlasting  habitations.'  " 

To  the  Rev.  Joel  Steele,  on  the  death  of  his  wife. 

"Very  dear  and  much  afflicted  brother, 

"  I  have  just  had  confirmed  to  me  the  melancholy  intelli- 
gence that  our  beloved  sister  and  your  affectionate  wife  is 


LETTER  OF  CONDOLENCE. 


155 


no  more  on  earth.  I  need  not  tell  you  it  has  affected  me 
most  sensibly.  I  know  of  none  among  all  my  acquaintances 
and  Christian  friends  whose  worth  I  more  highly  prized. 
She  always  exhibited  those  excellent  qualities  that  endeared 
her  to  all  who  knew  her.  I  feel  that  I  have  personally  suf- 
fered a  loss.  From  the  circle  of  my  valued  Christian  friends, 
one  among  the  worthies  is  gone.  I  feel  that  the  Church  has 
suffered  a  loss.  One  of  its  ornaments  is  gone  ;  and  one,  too, 
who,  from  the  station  she  filled,  as  well  as  from  the  excel- 
lences she  possessed,  was  eminently  qualified  '  to  allure  to 
brighter  worlds  and  lead  the  way.'  All  this  I  thought  of 
when  I  first  heard  the  news  of  her  death.  I  saw,  I,  in  a 
measure,  felt,  the  bitterness,  the  inexpressible  bitterness  of 
that  overflowing  cup  of  sorrow  which  your  heavenly  Father 
has  put  to  your  mouth.  I  beheld  you  in  that  heart-rending 
moment  when  lingering  hope,  with  an  awful  shock,  was 
about  to  have  torn  from  it  its  last  hold  on  the  beloved  ob- 
ject. I  saw  you  looking  inward  to  a  heart  about  to  be  made 
desolate  ;  outward  and  around,  on  your  babes  about  to  be 
motherless  ;  upward,  to  that  seemingly  frowning  Providence 
that  was  mixing  for  your  sorrowful  soul  this  cup  of  anguish ; 
while  your  grief,  too  full  to  have  a  tongue,  and  too  express- 
ively intelligent  not  to  be  understood,  cries  out,  *  Father,  if 
it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me.'  My  sighs,  my 
tears,  my  prayers  were  ready  to  mingle  with  yours ;  but  all 
is  over — Sister  Steele  is  dead  !  When  incredulous  sorrow 
could  realize  that  this  was  truth,  and  when  the  first  gust  of 
grief  was  over  in  your  troubled  breast,  I  beheld  you  with 
your  heart  still  looking  upward,  while  religion,  with  all  its 
instructing  and  consoling  influence,  enabled  you  to  add,  in 
the  language  of  Divine  resignation,  <  Nevertheless,  not  my 
will,  but  thine  be  done.'  To  this  sentiment  my  soul  says 
Amen.  The  Lord  write  it  upon  your  heart.  And  here  my 
sympathy  for  you  finds  rest,  because  here  you  find  rest. 
Yes,  my  brother,  it  relieves  my  heart  to  hear  you  say,  as  you 
have  said  in  your  letter  to  Brother  A.,  which  I  have  just 
read,  *  I  will  not  complain.  It  is  God  that  has  done  it ;  and 
shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?  I  feel  as 
though  the  consolations  of  religion  are  my  support  in  this 


156 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


day  of  tribulation.'  Ah  !  my  brother,  what  a  God  is  ours  ! 
The  severest  strokes  upon  his  children  are  laid  on  with  the 
rod  of  love.  Satan's  fiery  darts  make  but  a  small  wound, 
but  they  leave  therein  the  poison  of  death.  The  rod  of  God 
ploughs  in  the  trembling  heart  deep  and  painful  furrows, 
but  it  leaves  therein  the  balm  of  life,  the  medicine  of  the 
soul ;  and,  by  Divine  grace,  the  deeper  the  wound,  the  more 
salutary  and  glorious  the  effects.  Yea,  it  worketh  out  for 
us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 

"  I  spoke  of  a  loss,  and  so  this  death  seems  to  be  properly 
termed.  But  it  only  seems  ;  the  truth  is,  it  is  gain  ;  gain, 
not  only  to  her,  for  she  has  doubtless  gone  to  Paradise,  but 
it  shall  be  seen  in  the  issue  to  be  gain  to  you  and  to  your 
children,  impossible  as  it  may  appear.  But  you  may  ask, 
*  Who  can  supply  the  place  of  a  mother  to  my  children  V 
The  God  who  gave  them  a  mother,  and  hath  taken  her  away. 
"Without  him  even  a  mother  could  do  nothing.  But,  in  re- 
moving her,  has  he  removed  his  loving  kindness  from  you 
and  yours  ?  No,  he  is  the  same  God,  and  will  prove  him- 
self such  to  you  and  to  your  household.  Trust  him,  then, 
trust  him  forever. 

"  Randolph,  April  6,  1825." 

It  is  a  fact  growing  out  of  the  constitution  of  the  human 
mind,  that  no  revulsion  of  sentiment  takes  place,  good  or  bad, 
without  generating  some  excesses.  Novelty  always  throws 
something  of  a  haze  over  the  mental  vision,  and  few  possess 
such  clearness  of  perception  as  not  to  feel  its  distorting  influ- 
ence. The  Pietists  of  Germany,  the  Quietists  of  France,  the 
errors  of  Fox,  and  even  the  infidelity  of  Voltaire,  are  illustra- 
tions of  the  same  principle.  Who  can  tell  how  many  infi- 
dels have  been  made  by  associating  true  religion  with  its 
abuses  ?  Most  errors  take  their  origin  from  some  germe  of 
truth.  The  sudden  quickening  of  the  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject of  spiritual  Christianity  in  the  region  in  which  Mr.  Fisk 
laboured,  produced  some  illustrations  of  our  remark.  From 
the  utter  neglect  of  the  religious  emotions,  a  few  ran  into  the 
opposite  extreme,  and  made  them  the  absorbing  objects  of 
solicitude.    The  common  duties  of  life  were  undervalued  ; 


GENERAL  LAFAYETTE. 


157 


the  proprieties  of  life,  "  the  ornaments  of  a  meek  and  quiet 
spirit,"  the  "  charity  that  never  faileth"  and  "thinketh  no 
evil,"  were  displaced  by  dreamy  reveries,  or  wild  and  head- 
strong zeal,  or  sour  and  irritable  tempers.  Lofty  professions 
of  spirituality  and  abstraction  from  the  world  were,  in  some 
instances,  fearfully  at  variance  with  the  omission  of  good 
works,  and  a  neglect  of  the  nicer  laws  of  Christian  pro- 
priety. To  correct  these  evils,  Mr.  Fisk  wrote  a  series 
of  letters  on  Mysticism,  addressed  to  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  these  visionaries.  She  was  a  sincere  Chris- 
tian and  a  sensible  woman,  but  had  been  misled  probably 
by  the  ethereal  productions  of  Lady  Guion  and  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Cambray.  It  is  a  proof  of  her  good  sense  that  she 
was  reclaimed  from  her  temporary  hallucination,  and  has  now 
been  for  many  years  a  devoted,  exemplary,  and  practical 
follower  of  Christ.  These  excellent  letters  will,  should  Dr. 
Fisk's  works  be  called  for  by  the  public,  be  included  among 
them. 

In  the  years  1824-5,  General  Lafayette  made  his  tour 
through  the  United  States,  and  was  received  everywhere 
with  those  demonstrations  of  enthusiastic  regard  which  were 
due  to  so  disinterested  a  benefactor  of  the  country.  During 
the  summer  of  1825  he  passed  through  the  Northern  States, 
and  among  other  places  visited  Montpelier,  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment for  Vermont.  His  route  lay  through  the  village  of 
East  Randolph,  where  Mr.  Fisk  now  resided.  It  was  the 
design  of  the  committee  of  arrangements  only  to  stop  long 
enough  to  change  horses  here ;  but,  as  their  distinguished 
guest  had  become  fatigued,  they  determined  to  prolong  their 
sojourn  and  partake  of  a  cold  collation.  The  citizens  im- 
mediately determined  to  manifest  their  gratitude  and  re- 
spect by  appointing  a  deputation  to  wait  on  him  with  their 
salutations.  Mr.  Fisk  was  chosen  as  their  speaker.  Trust- 
ing to  the  impulse  of  his  own  feelings  and  his  ready  com- 
mand of  language,  in  a  few  moments  he  was  ready  to  con- 
duct the  procession,  and  offered  the  following  neat  and  ap- 
propriate effusion,  in  which  he  not  only  expressed  senti- 
ments pertinent  to  the  object,  but  also  beautifully  sustained 
his  own  character  as  the  agent  of  man's  highest  interests. 
He  spoke  as  follows  : 
14 


158 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  General  Lafayette, 
"  Sir  :  Permit  one  who,  though  a  stranger  to  the  profession 
of  arms,  is  not  a  stranger  to  the  blessings  of  liberty,  to  ad- 
dress you  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  village.  They 
feel,  sir,  that  they  have  no  claim  upon  a  large  share  of  your 
time  or  attention  ;  but  in  the  fulness  of  their  hearts,  they 
would  express  their  regard  for  him  whose  disinterested  val- 
our, under  God,  has  been  instrumental,  with  our  own  belov- 
ed Washington,  in  procuring  for  them  liberty  and  inde- 
pendence. 

"  We  cordially  and  sincerely  welcome  you  to  our  coun- 
try— our  state — our  village. 

Sir,  permit  me  to  say,  we  love  our  benefactor — we  thank 
him.  We  do  more  :  we  pray  for  him.  And  we  pray,  sir, 
that,  though  your  triumph  through  these  states  has  been 
greater,  it  is  believed,  and  more  glorious  than  was  ever  be- 
fore the  portion  of  a  mortal — the  homage  being  voluntary — 
that  you  be  prepared  for,  and  ultimately  share  in,  that  infi- 
nitely more  glorious  triumph  of  the  Church  of  the  First-born 
in  Heaven."* 

General  Lafayette  listened  to  the  address  with  great  at- 
tention and  very  evident  emotion.  As  he  made  his  short 
but  appropriate  response,  the  tears  glistened  in  his  eye,  and 
as  he  alluded  to  the  prayer,  they  could  no  longer  be  restrained : 
they  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  It  was  a  thrilling  moment, 
combining  as  it  did  the  loftiest  emotions  of  our  nature,  those 
of  piety  and  humanity.  The  scene  had  something  of  the 
moral  sublime.  The  hero  who  had  braved  the  cannon's 
mouth,  and  exposed  his  own  person,  fortune,  and  liberty  for 
man's  highest  earthly  interests,  and  now  stood  forth  the  object 
of  the  "world's  wide  gaze,"  responds  in  tears  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  a  brighter  immortality.  The  glories  of  Heaven  at- 
tract the  soul  upward  from  the  highest  pinnacle  of  worldly 
greatness. 

We  have  spoken  of  Mr.  Fisk's  admiration  of  the  sublime 

*  The  speech  was  taken  down  by  several  friends  and  handed  to  Mrs.  Fisk, 
who,  on  comparing  them  together,  found  that  they  varied  in  not  more  than  two 
or  three  words. 


PERILOUS  INCIDENT.  159 

and  beautiful  in  nature,  and  of  the  variety  of  incident  by 
which  his  itinerant  life  was  diversified.  An  account  handed 
me  by  Mrs.  Fisk  serves  to  illustrate  these  particulars. 

"  While  we  lived  in  Randolph,  in  going  and  returning 
from  the  north  part  of  his  district  and  from  his  father's,  Mr. 
Fisk  usually  took  the  route  by  the  way  of  the  Gulf  Turnpike. 
This  road  leads  through  the  gulf  from  which  the  road  de- 
rives its  name.  This  mountain  pass  was  pronounced  (July, 
1825)  by  General  Lafayette  one  of  the  wildest  he  had  ever 
seen.  At  that  time,  for  several  miles,  but  one  or  two  small 
clearings  had  been  effected.  The  road  had  been  carried 
along  a  deep  ravine,  following  a  stream  between  the  mount- 
ains, sometimes  at  the  base,  sometimes  on  its  side,  leaving 
a  deep  precipice  on  one  side  of  the  road  of  fifty  or  seventy- 
five  feet,  and  on  the  other  side  the  mountain  reared  itself, 
almost  perpendicularly,  one  hundred  feet  or  more  :  you  were 
now  on  a  level  with  the  stream,  now  fifty  or  seventy-five 
feet  above  it.  Sometimes  the  lofty,  dense  forest-trees,  ren- 
dered more  magnificent  by  their  rich  foliage,  would  form  an 
arch  over  your  head  and  obstruct  your  view  of  the  heavens. 
At  other  times,  as  the  road  wound  its  way  among  the  mount- 
ains, you  would  only  see  a  few  yards  of  the  beaten  path  be- 
fore you,  and  the  blue  sky  by  looking  directly  upward. 
Added  to  this  was  the  constant  roar  of  the  stream,  as  it 
dashed  its  waters  from  rock  to  rock,  which  in  the  spring, 
when  the  snow  melted  from  the  mountains,  would  be  swollen 
to  quite  a  river,  increasing  the  grandeur  of  the  scene.* 
Here,  too,  the  feathered  songsters  seemed  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  raising  their  loudest  notes  of  praise. 

"  To  my  dear  husband  this  was  a  loved  and  lovely  spot. 
In  summer  he  loved  to  pass  this  gulf  just  before  the  sun  was 
going  down ;  and  when  he  could,  he  always  arranged  his 
journey  to  do  so.  As  we  passed,  he  made  the  mountains  re- 
verberate with  his  favourite  stanzas  of  *  Beattie's  Hermit,'  oc- 
casionally pausing  to  enjoy  the  sublimity  of  the  wild  scene, 
to  listen  to  the  echo,  and  to  the  evening  vespers  of  the  feath- 
ered warblers,  or  the  plaintive  notes  of  the  whippoorwill. 

*  It  is  a  peculiar  charm  of  the  scenery  of  Vermont,  that  the  mountains  are 
generally  covered  with  verdure  to  their  very  summits. 


160 


LIFE    OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  In  May,  1825,  having  been  detained  one  day  when  we 
were  to  pass  this  gulf,  we  entered  it  after  the  sun  had  set. 
Just  before  we  arrived  near  the  precipice,  we  thought  we  saw 
in  the  distance  a  light,  resembling  that  which  is  emitted  from 
the  shoe  of  a  horse  as  it  strikes  a  stone.    We  listened,  and 
distinctly  heard  the  sound  of  carriage-wheels.    The  dense 
foliage  of  the  forest-trees  obscured  the  light  of  the  stars,  and 
rendered  it  quite  dark  ;  and  knowing  that  the  road  was  too 
narrow  to  permit  two  carriages  to  pass  each  other  without 
the  utmost  care,  our  first  fears  were  that  the  carriage  was 
approaching  us.    Again  we  listened.    Mr.  Fisk  immediately 
said,  1  Whether  the  carriage  is  approaching  us  or  not,  I  know 
from  the  sound  that  it  is  on  the  very  edge  of  the  precipice,' 
and  called  to  them  '  to  keep  to  the  right.'    Again  we  listen- 
ed ;  but  receiving  no  answer,  and  hearing  the  same  sound,  he 
jumped  from  his  carriage,  giving  me  the  reins  ;  and  speaking 
sharply  to  his  horse  to  prevent  his  following  him,  he  has- 
tened on  to  the  carriage,  which  was  some  distance  before  us. 
It  was,  indeed,  on  the  very  brink  of  the  precipice,  resting 
against  a  wooden  rail,  which  had  prevented  it  from  plunging 
down,  while  the  rail  was  actually  bending  beneath  its  weight. 
But  for  the  timely  assistance  of  Mr.  F.,  it  must  have  been 
destroyed.    The  carriage  contained  an  intoxicated  man, 
his  wife,  and  two  small  children.    The  horse's  bit  was  no- 
thing but  a  rope,  which  was  so  much  worn  that  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  manage  him.    But  the  man  was  equally  unmanageable. 
After  Mr.  Fisk  had  with  great  exertion  succeeded  in  get- 
ting the  carriage  from  the  bank,  he  persuaded  the  man  to 
give  up  the  reins,  and  requested  his  wife  to  hold  them  until 
he  had  fastened  our  carriage  to  theirs.    He  then  led  their 
horse,  and  in  this  way  we  proceeded  through  the  Gulf,  hav- 
ing nearly  three  miles  to  go  before  we  could  get  to  the  open 
road  ;  and  deeply  did  we  feel  our  dependance  on  our  Divine 
Preserver." 

We  shall  close  this  chapter  with  a  few  gleanings,  which 
we  found  it  not  so  convenient  to  introduce  into  an  earlier 
period  of  our  history. 

The  reader  has  probably  noticed  our  subject's  firm  reli- 
ance upon  an  overruling  Providence.    This  never  forsook 


TRAITS   OF  CHARACTER. 


161 


him.  In  the  midst  of  cares  and  trials,  Mrs.  Fisk  observes, 
she  has  often  known  him  to  lie  down  and  sleep  as  calmly  as 
an  infant ;  and  when  she  has  expressed  her  surprise,  he 
would  reply,  "  Why  should  I  be  anxious  ?  Am  I  not  in  the 
hands  of  my  heavenly  Father  ?  I  try  to  do  what  I  think  is 
right  and  for  the  best,  and  then  leave  all  with  him."  Thus 
we  have  a  beautiful  verification  of  the  prophet's  words, 
"  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed 
on  thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee." — Isaiah,  xxvi.,  3. 

We  have  mentioned  Mr.  Fisk's  residence  at  his  father's. 
It  would  have  been  greatly  to  his  temporal  interest  to  have 
remained  there ;  but  when  the  ministers  at  the  other  end  of 
the  district  urged  that  it  would  be  better  for  his  charge  to 
have  him  nearer  the  centre,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  remove  to 
East  Randolph. 

As  a  proof  of  his  anxiety  for  the  improvement  of  the 
younger  ministers,  the  following  incident  may  be  given : 
One  who  was  stationed  on  a  circuit  near  to  Mr.  Fisk's  resi- 
dence, under  his  advice  commenced  the  study  of  the  Latin 
language.  It  was  his  practice  to  come  to  Mr.  Fisk's  house, 
when  he  was  at  home,  to  recite ;  and  to  redeem  his  time,  and 
avoid  interruptions  from  company,  the  young  man  always 
retired  to  bed  at  sunset  and  rose  at  midnight,  the  family 
supplying  him  with  fire  and  candles  ;  and  that  he  might 
hear  his  recitation  without  interruption,  his  instructer  also 
rose  earlier  than  usual ;  but,  in  consequence  of  his  cough,  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  have  his  breakfast  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible after  rising.  Hence  the  arrangements  of  the  whole 
family  were  disturbed.  Such,  also,  is  a  specimen  of  the  en- 
ergy, sacrifices,  and  privation  of  many  Methodist  ministers 
in  prosecuting  their  studies. 

While  on  the  district,  a  school  or  association  was  formed 
for  the  instruction  and  improvement  of  the  young  exhorters 
and  those  who  had  the  ministry  in  view.  I  am  not  informed 
whether  Mr.  Fisk  originated  it,  but  he  certainly  concurred 
in  it  very  cordially,  and  gave  as  much  of  his  time  to  its  ad- 
vancement as  he  could  spare  when  in  its  vicinity.  The  Rev. 
L  Lord  was  for  some  time  the  instructer.  Similar  associa- 
tions have  been  formed  elsewhere  among  the  Methodists. 
14*  X 


162 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Mr.  Fisk  did  not  limit  his  preaching,  while  on  the  district, 
to  his  regular  appointments.  He  was  always  ready  to  preach 
the  word  wherever  he  could  find  attentive  hearers  ;  nor  did 
a  regard  for  remuneration  sway  him  in  the  least.  He  has 
frequently  carried  the  "Word  of  Life  to  destitute  congrega- 
tions, not  only  without  remuneration,  but  at  his  own  ex- 
pense. He  was  accustomed  to  remark  that  "  those  who 
paid  least  needed  the  Gospel  most,"  and  that  he  thought 
"  the  hardest  work  grace  had  to  do  was  to  make  a  covetous 
man  liberal ;"  and  that  he  feared  "  more  would  lose  heaven 
by  that  sin  than  any  other,  because  no  man  would  own  him- 
self to  be  covetous,  though  very  few  obeyed  the  injunction, 
1  Look  not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  but  every  man 
also  on  the  things  of  others.'  " 

There  is  certainly  no  situation  in  life  that  more  impera- 
tively demands  elevation  of  Christian  character  than  that  of 
an  itinerant  minister ;  and,  as  an  inevitable  counterpart, 
there  are  few  that  present  severer  tests  of  the  disinterested 
virtues.  From  the  very  nature  of  the  existing  relations, 
great  caution  is  required  to  guard  against  the  grovelling 
views  of  envy,  jealousy,  and  self-seeking  ;  nor  can  we  ascribe 
it  to  anything  but  the  special  grace  of  the  Almighty,  that  the 
body  has  always,  thus  far,  been  preserved  in  so  pure  a  spirit 
of  brotherly  affection.  No  man  was  ever  more  exempt  from 
these  vile  dispositions  than  our  subject,  and  no  man,  proba- 
bly, has  exerted  a  better  influence  in  this  respect  on  others. 
As  an  illustration,  we  give  the  following  anecdotes  :  On  a 
certain  occasion,  he  observed  a  young  preacher  on  his  dis- 
trict apparently  very  much  depressed  in  spirits.  His  sym- 
pathizing disposition  led  him  to  ask  the  cause.  The  young 
man  gave  him  to  understand  that  it  was  an  apprehension 
that  he  could  not  meet  the  expectations  of  the  people,  alle- 
ging, as  the  reason  for  this  apprehension,  the  constant  enco- 
miums which  he  heard  upon  his  predecessor.  Mr.  Fisk  re- 
plied that  upon  his  mind  it  would  have  just  the  opposite 
effect ;  that,  wherever  he  went,  his  predecessor  was  the  con- 
stant subject  of  eulogy  also  ;  "  and  I  think,"  added  he,  "  if 
they  love  brother  L.,  they  will  have  some  Christian  love  for 
me,  if  I  merit  it ;  but  if  they  did  not  love  him,  I  certainly 
should  not  expect  to  excite  their  Christian  sympathy." 


NOBLE  CONDUCT. 


163 


But  if  it  is  virtuous  to  rejoice  in  the  honours  and  prosper- 
ity of  another  when  he  is  justly  entitled  to  them,  it  requires 
a  still  nobler  elevation  to  leave  another  in  undisturbed  pos- 
session of  what  belongs  to  ourselves.  At  a  certain  time,  sev- 
eral ministers  were  expressing  their  admiration  of  a  younger 
brother,  just  deceased,  for  a  certain  document  ascribed  to 
him  by  his  biographer,  and  lamenting  the  loss  the  Church 
had  sustained  in  his  early  departure.  Mr.Fisk  mentioned 
having  met  the  person  in  question  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  being  highly  pleased  with  him,  but  said  nothing 
about  the  document. 

"  You  do  not  think  very  highly  of  that  document, "  said 
Mrs.  Fisk  to  him,  after  the  others  had  withdrawn,  judging, 
probably,  by  his  apparent  reserve. 

"  Not  very,"  was  the  reply. 

"  "What  do  you  consider  its  defects  ?" 

Going  to  his  desk,  he  drew  out  the  original  draught  of  the 
document  in  his  own  handwriting. 

" There,"  he  said,  "is  the  proof  who  is  the  author.  Your 
husband  wrote  it." 

"  But  how  did  this  mistake  happen  ?" 

"  As  I  write  an  indifferent  hand,  he  copied  it ;  and  being 
found  in  his  handwriting,  it  was  ascribed  to  him." 

"  But  you  ought  to  have  the  honour  of  it." 

"  I  do  nothing  for  honour — I  have  honour  enough,"  was 
all  his  reply. 

It  ought  to  be  considered  that  at  the  date  of  this  transac- 
tion Mr.  Fisk  was  only  just  coming  before  the  public,  and,  of 
course,  a  little  credit  at  that  period  was  of  much  more  im- 
portance to  him  than  subsequently.  The  reader,  if  he  please, 
may  compare  this  with  the  celebrated  incident  of  a  similar 
character  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson.  After  listening 
for  some  time  to  the  applauses  some  friends  bestowed  on 
one  of  Pitt's  supposed  speeches,  published  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine,  "  I  wrote  that  speech,"  thundered  forth  the  lexi- 
cographer, "  in  a  garret  in  Exeter-street."  The  simple  di- 
vine eclipses  the  great  philosopher.  To  be  indifferent  to 
honour  is  often,  not  to  say  always,  the  surest  way  to  obtain  it. 


164 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Wesleyan  Academy. — Removal  to  Wilbraham. — Government. — Revival. — Elec- 
tion Sermon. — Embarrassments  of  the  Institution. — Theological  Class. 

We  must  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  history  of  the 
Wesleyan  Academy.  When  the  committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  condition  of  the  Newmarket  Academy  deter- 
mined on  the  expediency  of  moving  the  institution  to  some 
other  place,  the  people  of  North  Wilbraham  offered  to  erect 
suitable  buildings  for  the  purpose,  and  pledged  their  influence 
to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  school  if  located  among 
them.  This,  in  connexion  with  other  considerations,  deter- 
mined the  committee  to  fix  on  Wilbraham  as  the  location. 
An  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  trustees  were  appointed,  and  other  neces- 
sary arrangements  made  to  organize  the  school  as  soon  as 
practicable.  Amos  Binney,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  very  gener- 
ously pledged  ten  thousand  dollars  towards  the  enterprise, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Lindsey  was  appointed  agent  to  procure 
the  remainder  by  subscription.  The  following  spring  (1825) 
the  buildings  were  commenced. 

The  eighth  day  of  November  of  the  same  year  was  the 
time  appointed  by  the  board  of  trustees  for  opening  the 
academy.  The  occasion  was  celebrated  with  a  little  festi- 
val, consisting  of  an  address  from  Mr.  Fisk,  accompanied 
by  appropriate  religious  services.  In  the  evening,  by  the 
liberality  of  the  citizens,  the  academy  buildings  were  hand- 
somely illuminated.  The  address  was  listened  to  with  great 
interest,  and  was  afterward  published  in  pamphlet  form.  It 
is  marked  by  the  author's  usual  characteristics.  But  many 
will  be  surprised  to  hear  of  the  manner  in  which  it  was  com- 
posed. Such  were  the  urgency  of  the  author's  duties,  and  the 
demands  upon  his  time,  that  he  could  not  command  leisure 
for  its  preparation  except  while  in  his  chaise.  The  whole 
of  it,  therefore,  was  written  with  a  pencil  on  the  road  at  va- 


REMOVES  TO  WILBRAHAM. 


165 


rious  intervals,  his  hat  serving  for  a  desk,  while  Mrs.  Fisk 
held  the  reins  and  officiated  as  charioteer  ! 

At  the  ensuing  meeting  of  the  trustees,  held  a  short  time 
afterward,  Mr.  Fisk  was  elected  principal  of  the  academy. 

As  he  still  held  the  office  of  presiding  elder,  he  did  not 
take  up  his  residence  immediately  at  Wilbraham.  Having, 
therefore,  made  such  arrangements  as  were  necessary  for 
the  present,  he  left  the  school  under  the  care  of  Mr.  N. 
Dunn,  the  instructer  selected  by  the  trustees,  and  returned 
to  the  duties  of  his  district,  spending  such  portions  of  his 
time  at  the  academy  as  he  could  spare  from  his  other  en- 
gagements. 

Mr.  Fisk  was  recognised  by  the  Conference,  at  its  session 
in  1826,  as  principal  of  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  and  accord- 
ingly prepared  to  transfer  his  residence  to  Wilbraham.  With 
what  feelings  he  contemplated  this  step,  may  be  seen  from 
an  ex^-act  of  a  letter  to  the  Misses  Osborn,  at  Charlestown  : 

"  You  will  have  learned,  before  this  reaches  you,  that  I  am 
about  j£>  transfer  my  residence  from  Vermont  to  Wilbraham- 
This  is  no  small  cross  to  me.  I  am  extremely  attached  to 
Vermont.  The  Lord  has  blessed  me  here  ;  he  has  blessed 
my  labours  ;  he  has  here  confirmed  my  health  :  he  has  done 
everything  for  me  here,  almost.  I  was  born  here  the  first 
and  second  time,  and  I  know  not  but  I  ought  to  add  the 
third  time  ;  for  here  I  had  restored  to  me  my  long-forfeited 
peace.  Twice,  when  in  other  places  I  drew  near  to  the 
grave,  God  has  upon  these  mountains  restored  me  to  a  good 
degree  of  health.  Here,  too,  I  made  my  first  efforts  to  blow 
the  Gospel  trumpet ;  and  here  I  have  more  souls  to  my  min- 
istry than  in  the  wide  world  besides.  And  here — but  I  for- 
bear to  speak  of  the  favour  God  has  given  me  in  the  eyes  of 
the  people.  Suffice  it  to  say,  my  earthly  kindred  are  here, 
some  alive,  some  in  their  graves  ;  and  hither,  if  it  please 
God,  I  hope  in  due  time  to  return,  to  die  where  they  have 
died,  and  sleep  where  they  sleep.  Of  this,  however,  I  will 
not  be  too  solicitous.  If  I  can  fall  asleep  in  Christ,  it  is  of 
little  consequence  where  the  body  rests.  It  shall  be  pillow- 
ed on  the  bosom  of  love  :  it  shall  be  resuscitated  by  the 


166 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Spirit  of  life :  it  shall  be  fashioned  like  unto  Christ's  most 
glorious  body  ;  and  then  it  shall  dwell,  not  in  the  mountains 
of  this  bleak  world,  but  amid  Mount  Zion's  pleasant  scenery, 
and  in  the  lovely  groves  of  a  celestial  paradise,  where  saints 
and  angels  meet  and  sing,  '  and  all  the  air  is  love.'  O  bless- 
ed prospect !  O  delightful  anticipation  !  Will  it  be  even  so  ? 
Lord,  help  '  every  one  of  us  that  hath  this  hope  in  him,  to 
purify  himself  even  as  Christ  is  pure.'  " — 1  John,  hi.,  3. 

He  removed  to  Wilbraham  in  May,  A.D.  1826,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  duties  with  great  alacrity.  These  were  suf- 
ficiently onerous,  and  multifarious  enough  to  distract  most 
men.  The  school  was  new,  most  of  the  persons  concerned 
were  inexperienced  in  their  business,  and  the  plan  of  the  in- 
stitution was  rather  novel ;  facts  which  excluded,  in  no  small 
degree,  the  advantages  of  a  division  of  labour.  Mr.  Fisk 
was  chief  director  everywhere.  All  looked  up  to  him  for 
counsel — steward,  teachers,  and  pupils.  In  addition,  he  had 
frequent  calls  abroad  to  preach,  deliver  addresses,  and  the 
like,  besides  conducting  a  very  extended  correspondence. 

He  was  now  in  a  situation  for  which  he  was  admirably 
qualified.  His  education  and  his  natural  talents;  his  great 
facility  in  transacting  business ;  his  knowledge  of  men,  and 
quick  insight  into  character  ;  his  affability,  sound  judgment, 
and  practical  good  sense,  were  all  important  qualifications. 
By  these  he  secured  both  the  confidence  of  parents  and  the 
affection  of  the  scholars.  With  such  a  principal  at  its  head, 
the  school  rose  into  a  commanding  notoriety,  and  was  ex- 
tensively patronised,  not  only  in  our  own,  but  also  by  other 
denominations.  The  institution  opened  with  but  seven  schol- 
ars :  during  the  first  term  it  increased  to  thirty,  and  the  next 
year  it  rose  to  seventy-five.  Its  subsequent  increase  was 
correspondingly  rapid,  until  in  a  few  years  it  numbered  from 
two  to  three  hundred. 

Mr.  Fisk  was  remarkably  successful  in  the  administration 
of  government.  His  mode  was  truly  paternal.  He  used 
the  rod  but  a  few  times,  and  then  only  in  extreme  cases. 
He  was  singularly  happy  in  inspiring  both  affection  and  re- 
spect.   But  his  government,  and  the  means  by  which  he  en- 


MODE  OF  GOVERNMENT. 


167 


gaged  the  affections  of  his  pupils,  may  be  better  illustrated 
than  described.  On  the  evening  of  the  simple  fete  in  com- 
memoration of  the  opening  of  the  school,  he  observed  a  little 
boy  looking  rather  dispirited,  perhaps  at  his  being  among 
strangers.  Going  up  to  him,  he  said,  "  John,  what  is  the 
matter  ?  we  want  no  sad  faces  here."  Then  taking  John's 
hands,  he  put  them  into  those  of  a  little  girl  somewhat  young- 
er than  himself,  saying,  "  Come,  M.,  I  must  give  John  into 
your  charge.  Do  you  try  to  cheer  him  up."  Such  an  in- 
terest in  the  happiness  of  his  pupils  would,  of  course,  secure 
their  attachment.  For  a  specimen  of  his  mode  of  giving 
the  gentler  kind  of  reproofs,  take  the  following  :  A  young 
lady  had  a  practice,  when  engaged  in  study,  of  knitting  her 
brows  unpleasantly.  Passing  near  her  one  day  when  bu- 
ried in  thought,  wearing  her  usual  scowl,  he  passed  his  hand 
gently  over  her  forehead,  saying,  in  his  pleasant  manner, 
"  Heaven  never  intended  that  that  brow  should  wear  such 
frowns." 

He  was  remarkable  for  tact  in  adapting  his  admonitions  or 
punishments  to  peculiarities  of  character.  On  one  occasion, 
a  student,  who  was  very  refractory  and  obstinate  in  some  ag- 
gravated case,  was  shut  up  in  solitude.  After  giving  him 
suitable  time  to  reflect,  Mr.  Fisk  went  to  him,  talked  with 
him  very  seriously  and  affectionately;  then  kneeling  down, 
he  prayed  with  him  until  the  culprit  was  completely  melted 
down  and  subdued.  He  ever  after  manifested  the  highest 
respect  for  his  faithful  reprover.  On  another  occasion,  two 
of  the  older  students  were  brought  before  him  for  card-play- 
ing. He  talked  to  them  closely,  plainly,  and  with  his  usual 
affection ;  showing  them  the  impropriety  of  their  conduct, 
and  the  danger  of  contracting  a  passion  for  such  amuse- 
ments. They  loved  him  all  the  better  for  his  faithfulness, 
and  out  of  mere  respect  to  him,  never  repeated  the  practice. 
They  are  now  both  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

Mr.  Fisk  set  up  a  high  standard  of  moral  rectitude  in  youth. 
He  regarded  the  conduct  of  the  boy  as  an  indication  of  what 
might  be  expected  in  the  man.  On  a  certain  occasion,  speak- 
ing of  a  young  gentleman  in  the  school  who  did  not  feel  the 
obligation  to  deny  himself  in  order  to  pay  his  debts,  he  re- 


168 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


marked,  u  The  young  man  means  no  harm ;  it  is  a  defect  of  his 
early  education,  and  I  fear  will  lay  the  foundation  of  his  future 
ruin.  What  a  fearful  responsibility  do  such  parents  incur. 
God  will  not  be  mocked !  and  it  is  of  his  long  suffering  that 
parents  do  not  always  reap  what  they  have  sowed.  Could  pa- 
rents, even  Christian  parents,  only  realize  the  vast  impor- 
tance of  deeply  instilling  into  the  minds  of  their  children, 
from  their  very  cradle,  the  pure  principles  of  integrity,  what 
exertion  would  they  make  to  do  it,  and  in  what  a  different 
world  should  we  live."  Then  he  added,  as  the  tears  gush- 
ed from  his  eyes,  "  What  a  debt  do  I  owe  my  parents  !" 

He  always  cherished  the  deepest  solicitude  for  the  reli- 
gious welfare  of  his  scholars.  He  believed  Christianity  to 
be  the  hope  of  our  race  both  for  this  world  and  the  next, 
and  therefore  nothing  pained  him  so  much  as  indifference,  or 
delighted  him  more  than  attention  to  its  claims.  Hence  he 
laboured,  preached,  and  lived  with  a  continual  view  to  the 
advancement  of  vital  godliness.  Nor  did  he  neglect  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  own  heart.  Like  the  Roman  general  who 
never  lost  a  battle,  he  did  not  say  "  go  on,"  but  "come  on." 
He  did  not  point  others  to  the  course  which  he  himself  neg- 
lected to  pursue  ;  his  own  good  sense  would  guard  him 
from  such  inconsistency  ;  for 

"  His  wisdom  sure  on  folly's  confines  lies, 
Who,  wise  for  others,  for  himselfs  unwise." 

His  example  enforced  his  precepts,  while  his  avowed  con- 
viction of  the  paramount  importance  of  religion  was  amply 
sustained  by  the  subjection  of  his  temper,  conversation,  and 
deportment  to  its  laws  ;  indeed,  his  whole  character  was  ra- 
diant with  the  "  beauty  of  holiness." 

"  Instinct  to  rouse  the  heart,  and  lead  the  will, 
By  a  bright  ladder,  to  the  throne  above." 

Nor  were  his  labours  without  success.  In  a  few  weeks 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  communicating  to  the  editor  of 
Zion's  Herald  the  subjoined  intelligence  : 

Revival  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy, 

"  Wilbraham,  July  7,  1826. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

"  Through  the  columns  of  the  Herald  we  would  give  a 


REVIVAL  IN  THE  ACADEMY.  ]  69 

short  notice  of  the  prosperity  of  our  rising  seminary,  and  of 
the  dealings  of  God  with  us  in  this  place.  Our  school  has 
filled  up  beyond  our  expectations,  having  increased  since 
this  term  commenced  to  about  seventy-five,  fifty  of  whom 
are  inmates  of  the  boarding-house.  These  are  all  enjoying 
a  good  course  of  instruction,  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Dunn 
in  the  male  department,  with  such  monitors  as  he  has  en- 
listed for  his  assistance,  and  Miss  Tillinghast  in  the  female 
department.  The  students  are  generally  well-behaved,  dili- 
gent, and  easily  governed.  This  is  undoubtedly,  in  part, 
owing  to  that  which  rejoices  us  more  than  anything  else — a 
revival  of  religion  among  us.  There  were  several  instances 
of  conversions,  and  some  good  symptoms  of  a  work  of  grace 
among  the  people  previously  to  the  sitting  of  the  Conference 
in  this  place,  but  nothing  special  appeared  until  since  the 
Conference  ;  but  now  a  number  profess  to  have  found  for- 
giveness through  Christ,  and  numbers  more  are  inquiring 
after  salvation,  insomuch  that  present  appearances  indicate 
a  general  shower  of  Divine  mercy,  not  only  in  this  parish, 
but  in  the  south  parish  and  other  neighbouring  places.  The 
labours  of  our  brethren  during  the  session  of  the  Conference 
have  doubtless  contributed  to  this ;  and  the  work  has  been 
specially  forwarded,  under  God,  by  the  instrumentality  of 
Brother  Maffit,  who  tarried  more  than  a  fortnight  after  the 
Conference  arose,  and  laboured  much,  and  with  great  suc- 
cess, among  the  people.  Of  this  work  our  interesting  family 
at  the  boarding-house  have  shared  a  good  proportion.  I  will 
not  name  the  number  who  have  professed  to  experience  jus- 
tifying grace,  because,  among  such  young  persons,  in  times 
of  great  excitement,  there  jannot  always  be  a  strong  assu- 
rance that  the  work  will  in  every  case  prove  genuine.  A 
number,  however,  give  good  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart ; 
and  I  know  some  oi  our  preachers  will  rejoice  when  they 
learn  that  some  of  their  children  are  among  the  number.  I 
cannot  express  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  when  I  returned 
from  a  journey  which  I  took  directly  after  Conference,  to 
find  a  number  of  those  dear  youths  who  have  been  intrusted 
to  our  care  rejoicing  in  the  Lord.  We  rejoice  over  them, 
however,  with  trembling ;  we  watch  for  their  confirmation 
15  Y 


170 


LIFE  OF  WILLBDR  FISK. 


in  the  Divine  life  with  affectionate  anxiety,  and  constantly 
pray,  '  O  Lord  !  strengthen  what  thou  hast  wrought  for  us.' 
O  that  all  our  brethren  would  join  with  us  in  this  prayer ! 
We  are  the  more  encouraged  to  hope  the  work  will  prove 
permanent,  because  a  number  of  the  scholars  were  confirm- 
ed in  experience  before  they  came  here,  whose  example  and 
conversation  are  very  serviceable  to  the  converts. 

M  Should  the  work  increase,  you  may  expect  farther  par- 
ticulars hereafter.  W.  Fisk." 

Few  terms,  if  any,  elapsed  during  Dr.  Fisk's  connexion 
with  the  Wilbraham  Academy  without  a  revival  of  religion. 
At  these  seasons  he  invariably  closed  the  meetings  at  a  fixed 
and  suitable  hour.  On  one  occasion,  however,  when  he  was 
absent,  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  dining-room  of  the 
boarding-house,  and  continued  too  late.  Returning  home  in 
the  evening,  and  ascertaining  the  fact,  he  went  to  the  room. 
There  was  some  extravagance  and  confusion.  He  softly 
opened  the  door,  and  as  the  prayer  then  in  progress  was 
closed,  his  well-known,  soft,  and  musical  voice  was  heard  in 
one  of  his  favourite  hymns.  Having  sung  one  or  two  stan- 
zas, he  expressed  his  gratification  at  their  zeal  and  enjoy- 
ment in  religion,  told  them  it  was  time  to  separate,  and  clo- 
sed the  meeting.  All  felt  the  reproof,  but  no  one  was  hurt 
or  displeased.  Such  was  the  manner  with  which  he  tem- 
pered decision  with  gentleness,  and  such,  too,  was  his  at- 
tention to  whatever  rekted  to  the  benefit  of  his  pupils. 

It  is  customary  in  some  of  the  New-England  States  to 
open  the  Legislature  each  \^ar  with  a  sermon  from  some 
clergyman,  chosen  for  that  purpose  at  the  preceding  ses- 
sion. This  is  called  the  Election  Sermon.  Mr.  Fisk  was 
chosen  for  this  honourable  office  by  the  Legislature  of  his 
native  state  in  1825,  and  the  twelfth  day  of  October,  1826, 
was  the  day  appointed  for  the  ceremony.  According  to 
custom,  the  discourse  was  delivered  from  written  notes  ; 
but,  for  the  want  of  time,  it  was  prepared,  like  his  inaugural 
address,  chiefly  in  his  gig  on  the  road.  His  text  was,  "  My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world." — John,  xviii.,  36.  This  is  an 
admirable  production.    It  is  remarkable  for  clear  and  sound 


ELECTION  SERMON  AT  MONTPELIER. 


171 


views,  lofty  eloquence,  Christian  spirit,  and  faithful  admoni- 
tion. It  is  singularly  felicitous  in  introducing,  without  cant, 
with  perfect  appropriateness  and  good  taste,  the  most  spirit- 
ual views  of  the  Christian  religion.  One  is  surprised  to  see 
how  much  of  evangelical  truth  could  be  exhibited  on  such 
an  occasion.  But  the  speaker's  own  heart  was  full  of  it,  and 
hence  it  flowed  forth  spontaneously.  There  was  no  going 
out  of  the  way  in  searching  for  it,  nor  any  appearance  of 
dragging  it  in  by  force. 

It  may  be  acceptable  to  the  reader  to  know  something  of 
the  scope  of  this  discourse.  "  It  is  to  be  feared,"  said  the 
preacher,  "  our  politicians  are  not  sufficiently  aware  how 
much  they  are  indebted  to  Christ's  kingdom  for  those  excel- 
lent principles  which  form  the  basis  of  our  political  fabric ; 
nor  do  they  seem  to  be  fully  aware  of  the  vast  influence  of 
this  kingdom  in  preserving  this  fabric  from  ruin."  The 
statement  of  his  subject  is  thus  made :  "  To  guard  us  against 
a  criminal  and  dangerous  indifference  to  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  in  our  political  operations,  by  pointing  out  the  proper 
relation  between  Christ's  kingdom  and  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world,  so  that  the  rights  of  each  may  be  distinctly  marked, 
their  due  share  of  independence  recognised,  and  their  alli- 
ance defined,  will  be  the  design  of  the  present  discourse." 
He  then  shows,  in  six  particulars,  wherein  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  differs  from  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  and  closes 
with  a  pertinent,  faithful,  yet  dignified  appeal  to  his  venera- 
ted auditory. 

This  discourse  produced  a  very  strong  impression  on  the 
minds  of  his  audience,  and  gave  its  author  a  commanding 
place  in  their  esteem.  According  to  custom,  it  was  sent  to 
press,  more  than  a  usual  number  being  printed,  which  was 
so  far  from  satisfying  the  demand,  that  a  second  edition  was 
published  in  a  few  months.  It  was  afterward  inserted  in  the 
Methodist  Magazine. 

Mr.  Fisk  was  immediately  elected  chaplain  to  the  Legis- 
lature, and  consequently  remained  in  Montpelier.  His  du- 
ties were  to  open  the  session  each  day  with  prayer,  and  preach 
to  the  two  houses  on  the  Sabbath.  The  latter  was  always 
done  in  the  Congregational  Church,  the  only  place  of  wor- 


172 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ship  in  the  town.  This  affords  us  opportunity  to  illustrate 
another  point  in  our  subject's  character.  A  few  years  prior 
to  this,  the  Rev.  John  Lindsey  was  chaplain  to  the  Legisla- 
ture; but  such  was  the  prejudice  against  Methodism,  that  it 
was  deemed  inexpedient  to  receive  the  regular  services  of 
the  chaplain  in  the  church.  He  consequently  preached  in 
the  Courthouse.  In  1824,  while  Mr.  Fisk  was  on  a  visit  at 
Montpelier,  the  clergyman  of  the  church  invited  him  to 
preach  for  him. 

"  But,  sir,"  was  the  answer,  "  that  cannot  be." 

"Why  so,  sir  ?" 

"  Because  you  do  not  admit  the  ministers  of  my  denomi- 
nation into  your  pulpit." 

"  Oh,  but  you  are  not  like  your  brethren  ;  we  will  admit 
you." 

"  You  say  right,  sir,  that  I  am  not  like  my  brethren,  for 
many  of  them  are  very  far  my  superiors.  Nor  have  I  any 
wish  to  go  where  they  are  not  admitted." 

Nevertheless,  during  Mr.  Fisk's  chaplaincy  in  Montpe- 
lier, he  preached  regularly  in  the  Congregational  Church. 
A  few,  feeling  indignant  at  the  former  treatment  of  his  breth- 
ren, were  opposed  to  this ;  yet  he  thought  it  better  not  to 
yield  to  their  feelings,  and  consequently  preached,  greatly 
to  the  satisfaction  and  edification  of  the  people.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  town  was  favoured  with  a  very  happy  revi- 
val of  religion,  which  many  of  the  inhabitants  ascribed,  in 
a  great  measure,  to  his  able  and  faithful  ministry. 

Nor  were  the  remarks  in  the  foregoing  conversation  care- 
lessly made.  Mr.  Fisk  always  showed  the  same  spirit.  He 
made  no  claims  on  the  ground  of  superiority.  He  never 
wished  for  greater  respect  or  attention  than  every  minister 
of  Christ  is  entitled  to  receive.  He  felt  himself  perfectly  on 
a  level  with  his  brethren,  however  young  or  unfavoured  by 
human  advantages  ;  and  if  any  one  of  his  brethren,  through 
inferior  attractions  or  qualifications,  seemed  to  be  overlooked 
or  neglected,  he  would  be  sure  to  single  him  out  for  more 
than  ordinary  attentions  and  acts  of  kindness. 

For  the  following  characteristic  incident,  the  reader  is  in- 
debted to  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Fisk  : 


DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME. 


173 


* '  As  we  were  going  to  attend  the  Vermont  Legislature  in 
the  autumn  of  1826,  my  dear  husband  heard  that  the  young 
minister  of  Athens  Circuit,  on  Vermont  District,  was  very 
feeble ;  and,  contrary  to  our  previous  arrangement,  Mr.  F. 
felt  it  his  duty  to  continue  his  journey,  that  he  might  render 
the  young  minister  some  assistance,  instead  of  spending  the 
Sabbath  with  his  aunt  at  Brattleborough,  as  was  his  usual 
practice. 

"  At  sunset  on  Saturday  evening  we  had  still  eighteen 
miles  to  ride  to  accomplish  his  object,  though  we  were  only 
two  miles  from  his  aunt's.  Soon  after  dark  a  dense  fog  ob- 
scured our  view,  even  of  our  horse.  Mr.  F.  stopped  at  a 
farmhouse  and  purchased  two  candles,  and  lighted  one. 
While  he  guided  the  horse,  I  was  able  to  hold  the  lighted 
candle  in  such  a  manner  (there  being  not  the  slightest 
breeze)  that  he  could  see  when  the  wheels  of  our  carriage 
were  in  the  road,  though  we  could  not  discern  the  head  of 
our  horse.  We  had  to  pass  through  a  piece  of  road  called 
the  1  Auger  Hole,'  where  for  one  or  two  miles  it  is  very  dif- 
ficult for  two  carriages  to  pass  each  other.  But,  through  the 
mercy  of  a  protecting  Providence,  we  arrived  in  safety  at  the 
hospitable  mansion  of  W.  R.  Shafter,  Esq.,  in  Townsend, 
four  miles  from  Athens,  at  half  past  eleven  o'clock,  just  as 
our  last  candle  was  expiring.  The  next  morning  we  rode 
on  to  A.,  and  Mr.  F.  preached  for  the  young  man. 

"  Nor  was  this  our  only  ride  by  candlelight.  We  were 
often  out  in  the  most  terrific  thunder-storms,  my  dear  hus- 
band being  unwilling  to  disappoint  a  congregation. 

"  Before  we  went  to  Europe  it  was  very  common  for  Mr. 
F.  to  say,  '  My  dear  wife  has  been  with  me  in  perils  by  day, 
and  perils  by  night,  and  perils  by  land,  but  I  cannot  say  "by 
sea."  '  After  our  return,  he  would  add,  '  I  can  now  say  by 
sea.'  " 

The  Wilbraham  Academy  during  this  period  was  greatly 
embarrassed  in  its  finances.  This  was  a  subject  of  deep 
anxiety  to  its  friends,  and  to  none  more  than  to  its  principals 
As  the  enterprise  was  new,  and  its  importance  was,  by  many, 
not  appreciated  in  the  Church,  it  was  looked  upon  somewhat 
coldly.  Affairs  wore  a  gloomy  aspect ;  yet  many  of  the 
15* 


174  LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 

people,  to  their  praise  be  it  spoken,  and  some  noble  spirits 
among  our  New-England  ministry,  were  ready  to  make  al- 
most any  sacrifice  to  sustain  it.  Of  this,  ample  proof  was 
given  at  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  at  Wilbraham,  No- 
vember 22, 1826.  The  prospect  at  this  time  was  sufficiently 
discouraging.  Everything  looked  dark,  and  many  began  to 
despond.  In  this  state  of  feeling,  one  of  the  trustees  ob- 
served that  "  We  shall  be  obliged  to  go  to  jail."  This 
brought  from  the  Rev.  L  L.  the  following  answer :  "  It  is 
said  we  must  go  to  jail !  My  brethren,  I  had  rather  go  to 
jail,  and  lie  in  jail,  than  that  this  institution  should  go  down ; 
but  God  will  avert  such  a  dreadful  alternative.  We  have 
confidence  in  God,  for  '  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills  are 
his;'  and  we  shall  succeed!'  "  Such  were  the  difficulties 
encountered  at  the  commencement  of  this  cause,  and  such, 
too,  the  generous  spirits  that  surmounted  them. 

But  virtue  is  diffusive,  and  the  faith  of  one  stout  heart 
moves  many.  Vigorous  efforts  were  now  determined  on  to 
relieve  their  embarrassments.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Fisk  under- 
took a  tour  through  Vermont  and  New-Hampshire  to  aid 
the  Rev.  J.  Lindsey,  who  had  consented  to  take  a  special 
agency  for  a  few  months  in  behalf  of  the  institution.  The 
amount  was  raised,  and  the  object  accomplished. 

This  journey  produced  the  following  article  from  his  pen  : 

"  ERA  OF   GOOD  FEELING. 

"  A  circumstance  occurred,  during  a  late  tour  to  Vermont 
and  New-Hampshire  to  solicit  donations  for  the  Wesleyan 
Academy,  which  I  deem  worthy  of  public  notice.  I  had  a 
letter  of  introduction  to  Colonel  B.,  of  Hanover  (Dartmouth 
College),  N.  H. ;  and,  as  I  hardly  supposed  the  people  in 
that  village  would  be  disposed  to  do  much  towards  the  ob- 
ject of  my  mission,  I  had  designed  to  call  on  the  colonel, 
and  then  go  on  my  journey.  In  conversation  with  the  Rev. 
William  W.,  Congregational  minister  in  N.,  I  mentioned  my 
design,  and  he  suggested  the  propriety  of  my  calling  upon 
the  other  citizens  in  Hanover,  and  especially  upon  the  offi- 
cers of  the  college,  and  kindly  offered  to  be  my  company, 
and  introduce  me  to  such  gentlemen  as  he  thought  would 


ERA.  OF  GOOD  FEELING. 


175 


be  favourable  to  my  object.  This  was  accordingly  agreed 
upon,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  the  next  day,  we  re- 
ceived subscriptions  in  that  small  village  to  the  amount  of 
seventy-five  dollars.  Most  of  the  officers  of  the  college,  in- 
cluding the  president,  became  subscribers,  and  all  seemed 
to  wish  success  to  the  institution.  The  donations  themselves 
were  not  more  gratifying  than  the  spirit  with  which  they 
were  given.  No  captious  questions  were  asked,  no  long 
complaints  of  poverty  were  made  by  those  who  gave ;  though 
complaints  might  have  been  made  with  propriety  at  that  time, 
if  ever,  by  the  good  people  of  Hanover.  They  had  but  a 
little  before  completed  a  fund  of  $10,000  for  their  own  col- 
lege, of  which  a  very  generous  proportion  had  been  subscri- 
bed in  that  village ;  and  but  just  before,  about  $1000  had 
been  collected  in  that  place  for  a  religious  charity  by  Mr. 
C,  of  S. ;  and,  in  addition,  they  had  just  undertaken  to  raise 
a  fund  of  $50,000  for  their  own  college,  $5000  of  which  had 
been  subscribed,  or  would  be  subscribed  in  Hanover.  In 
the  midst  of  this  almost  unparalleled  levy  of  public  benevo- 
lences, they  gave  $75  dollars  to  an  institution  130  miles 
from  them,  under  the  patronage  of  another  denomination, 
and  of  which,  until  that  day,  they  had  probably  had  but  little 
knowledge. 

"  I  call  this  at  least  one  good  proof  that  the  present  is  an 
era  of  good  feeling.  When  men  of  different  denominations 
and  of  different  local  interests  in  literary  seminaries,  unite 
their  valuable  efforts  with  men  of  other  denominations  and 
other  local  interests  to  aid  the  common  cause  of  religion 
and  of  science,  we  may  expect  such  a  holy  alliance  will  drive 
sin  and  error  from  the  field  :  an  alliance,  this,  which  can  only 
exist  among  men  of  enlarged  and  noble  minds. 

"Another  reflection  grows  out  of  the  above  facts,  viz.,  that 
men  are  not  the  less  willing  to  give  because  they  are  often 
solicited  and  have  been  in  the  habit  of  giving.  As  in  Han- 
over, so  I  believe  it  will  be  found  in  other  places,  that  where 
the  objects  for  public  charity  are  the  oftenest  presented,  there 
their  importance  is  the  most  considered,  and  the  duty  of  giv- 
ing is  the  best  understood.  The  yoke  of  benevolent  duties, 
where  it  is  taken  and  worn)  is  easy,  and  the  burden  thereof 


176 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


becomes  light.  It  is  the  man  who  seldom  gives  that  chafes 
and  complains  most  when  requested  to  give.  It  has  been 
intimated  by  some  of  our  ministerial  brethren,  that,  unless 
we  cease  our  public  and  private  solicitations  for  charity,  we 
shall  sour  our  people,  and  drive  them  from  us.  This,  how- 
ever, I  believe,  is  a  mistake.  If  we  are  careful  to  solicit  aid 
for  only  worthy  objects,  and  if  we  prudently  expend  the 
public  charities  intrusted  to  us,  we  need  not  fear.  We  have 
been  too  fearful  of  calling  upon  our  people  to  aid  in  the 
great  works  of  benevolence  of  the  present  day,  and  this  is 
why  we  are  so  doubtful  of  their  willingness  to  give.  Are 
Methodist  Christians  different  from  other  Christians  in  their 
dispositions  and  feelings  ?  If  they  are,  Methodism  has  made 
them  to  differ,  for  it  has  selected  its  adherents  from  the  same 
mass  of  population  with  the  other  denominations.  And  are 
we  prepared  to  acknowledge,  that  that  modification  of  Chris- 
tianity which  maintains  a  universal  atonement,  and  offers  a 
free  salvation  to  the  whole  human  family,  has  a  tendency  to 
lock  up  the  soul  of  him  that  believes  it  within  the  narrow 
walls  of  self?  Shall  those  who  believe  in  perfect  love  to 
God  and  man,  in  complete  deadness  to  the  world,  in  the 
entire  subjugation  of  the.  unholy  and  earthly  passions,  be 
accounted  less  accessible  to  the  pleas  of  benevolence  and 
the  claims  of  charity  than  other  Christians  ?  It  cannot  be. 
Methodism  is  a  benevolent  religion.  It  makes  high  profes- 
sions of  consistency,  as  well  as  of  that  charity  which  i  seek- 
eth  not  its  own.'  Frequent  appeals  for  laudable  chari- 
ties to  men  under  the  influence  of  such  a  religion  cannot 
drive  them  from  us,  but  draw  them  to  us  by  the  strongest 
cords  of  attachment.  We  may,  indeed,  irritate  the  feelings 
of  those  who  have  connected  themselves  with  us,  not  because 
they  have  any  peculiar  attachment  for  us,  but  because  they 
think  ours  a  cheap  religion,  and  they  can  live  with  us  with- 
out paying  for  it.  Such  men  ought  to  be  disturbed.  They 
have  hung  upon  us  like  dead  weights,  and  been  sponging 
around  our  ecclesiastical  gates  long  enough.  If  they  will 
not  reform,  it  is  no  matter  how  soon  they  leave  us,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  no  one  else  will  receive  them.  The  least  we 
ought  to  do  to  such  narrow,  covetous  minds,  is  to  make  them 


CATHOLIC  SPIRIT. 


177 


uneasy  everywhere.  Such  souls  will  never  be  admitted  to 
the  heavenly  feast  in  their  present  state,  for  there  will  not 
be  found  a  wedding-garment  in  the  vestry  of  heaven  to  fit 
them — they  are  all  too  large  ;  and  they  ought  to  have  no 
seat  at  the  table  of  the  Church  below.  But,  thank  God,  the 
great  body  of  the  Methodists  are  not  such.  If  they  are  de- 
ficient in  their  public  charities,  it  is  chiefly  because  their  at- 
tention has  not  been  often  enough  called  to  these  subjects, 
and  their  importance  and  necessity  have  not  been  sufficient- 
ly set  before  them. 

But  I  will  close  this  article  by  adding,  that  the  seminary 
at  Wilbraham,  for  which  the  above-mentioned  subscriptions 
were  received,  will  succeed  and  prosper,  unless  its  more  im- 
mediate patrons  are  greatly  wanting  to  themselves.  With 
the  best  wishes  of  other  denominations,  and  even  with  their 
pecuniary  aid  in  its  favour ;  with  a  large  and  increasing 
number  of  students,  and  a  prosperous  beginning,  all  that  is 
now  requisite  is  a  united  effort  at  this  time  to  relieve  it  of 
its  present  embarrassments,  and  a  steady  perseverance  in  its 
support.  But  if  a  few  be  left  to  groan  and  toil  under  the 
burden  till  they  faint  and  give  over,  it  shall  be  to  our  shame 
and  confusion,  if  not  to  our  overthrow.  Let  us,  then,  urged 
on  by  the  good  example  and  encouraging  aid  of  others, 
show  by  our  works  that  we  are  what  we  profess  to  be,  the 
supporters  of  a  liberal  and  enlightened  system  of  truth. 

"  W.Fisk. 

"  Wilbraham,  March  27,  1827." 

A  passage  from  a  private  letter  referring  to  the  foregoing 
incident,  breathes  the  same  spirit. 

"  Wilbraham,  April  2d,  1827. 
"  When  I  was  returning  I  stopped  at  Norwich  Plain,  and 
spent  a  Sabbath  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  W.,  a  clergyman  of  the 
Congregational  order,  by  whom  I  was  treated  like  a  brother. 
He  took  much  interest  in  the  object  of  my  mission  ;  went 
with  me  to  Hanover,  and  helped  me  to  beg,  as  if  the  cause 
were  his  own.  We  obtained  seventy-five  dollars  in  that  vil- 
lage on  Saturday ;  and  in  return,  I  came  home  with  him, 

Z 


178 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


and  preached  three  times  to  his  people  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
left  him  on  Monday  morning,  thinking  '  how  good  and  how 
pleasant  a  thing  it  was  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity.' 
When  Christians  can  feel  that  the  cause  is  a  common  cause, 
and  will  unite  in  sincerity  to  help  it  on,  the  enemy  must  be 
driven  from  the  field." 

Subsequently  to  this,  Mr.  Fisk  wrote  a  petition  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Legislature,  and  watched  its  progress  through  both 
houses,  by  which  means  a  grant  was  made  to  the  academy 
of  a  tract  of  land,  which  was  sold  for  twenty-three  hundred 
dollars. 

The  subjoined  article  was  written  by  Mr.  Fisk.  It  con- 
tains thoughts  worthy  of  consideration  at  all  times,  and  is 
entitled  to  a  more  permanent  place  than  the  columns  of  a 
newspaper. 

"  WESLEYAN  LIBERALITY. 

"Mr.  Editor, 

u  I  saw  in  the  Herald  of  the  18th  of  April  the  amount  that 
the  English  Wesleyan  Methodists  raised  for  missionary  pur- 
poses ;  it  was  a  great  sum,  and  I  was  led  to  admire  their 
liberality.  My  impression  is,  that  the  English  are  more  lib- 
eral in  all  their  religious  contributions  than  the  American 
people.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  there  are  numerous  dona- 
tions, and  some  large  ones,  made  to  that  society,  the  inter- 
est of  which  makes  a  considerable  part  of  the  sum  raised.  I 
think  that  it  would  be  well  for  the  American  brethren  to  im- 
itate the  English  brethren  in  this  respect.  Our  society,  in 
many  places,  are  poor,  and  their  dependance  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Gospel  is  much  like  that  of  the  first  Christians. 
Among  the  numerous  poor  there  are  some  rich  men,  whose 
children  are  in  good  circumstances,  and  a  part  of  their  rich 
parents'  property  would  make  them  as  happy  as  if  they  had 
the  whole.  Some  of  those  rich  men  are  called  into  the  vine- 
yard at  the  eleventh  hour,  after  they  have  spent  all  their  life- 
time in  serving  themselves.  How  reasonable  it  is  that  they 
should  leave  something  to  the  Church,  and  thus  do  good  af- 
ter they  are  dead  and  gone.    Suppose  that  some  of  the  rich 


WESLEYAN  LIBERALITY. 


179 


are  called  into  the  vineyard  while  young,  and  the  good  Lord 
has  blessed  them  with  this  world's  goods  after  they  1  first 
sought  the  kingdom  of  God.'  They  have  spent  all  their  life- 
time in  doing  good ;  yet,  like  Samson,  they  may  at  death 
do  more  than  all  they  have  done  in  their  lives. 

"  If  it  should  be  asked  how  this  could  be,  I  answer,  it 
may  be  that  they  have  been  doing  good  five,  ten,  twenty,  or 
fifty  years  ;  but  by  leaving  something  for  religious  purposes, 
the  interest  thereof  might  be  doing  good  for  centuries  after 
they  are  dead.  If  some  who  are  able  should  make  dona- 
tions to  the  particular  societies  where  they  live,  being  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  embarrassments  of  their  brethren  for 
want  of  property,  to  make  their  preachers  comfortable  until 
the  Lord  had  blessed  the  society  with  competency — then  let 
the  trustees  transfer  it  to  some  missionary  society,  so  that  it 
would  be  constantly  doing  good,  what  immense  benefit  to 
mankind  they  might  accomplish  !  The  rich  may  plead  that 
all  they  give  by  donations  they  take  from  their  children. 
Poor  excuse  !  The  rich  generally  do  not  make  any  sacri- 
fices, although  they  give  considerable  towards  supporting 
the  Gospel ;  but  the  poor  have  to  contend  with  poverty,  and 
deprive  themselves  and  their  children  of  many  conveniences 
when  they  support  the  Gospel.  Why  shall  not  the  rich  man 
take  something  from  his  children,  as  well  as  the  poor  always  ? 
I  feel  thankful  for  what  has  been  done  and  what  is  now  do- 
ing, but  there  is  a  lack  yet.  I  am  convinced  that  there 
must  be  considerable  exertions  and  sacrifices  made,  and  a 
spirit  of  liberality  infused  into  our  people,  before  they  shall 
take  hold  of  the  cause  unitedly.  If  this  should  provoke  or 
excite  any  to  more  liberality,  I  should  rejoice.  If  the  rich 
think  that  the  poor  need  stirring  up  to  duty,  which  I  am  con- 
fident they  do,  as  I  am  one  of  them,  I  should  be  happy  to 
be  addressed  by  them  every  week. 

"  A  well  wisher  to  the  'prosperity  of  Zion. 

"  April  24,  1827." 

A  love  of  labour  was  a  remarkable  feature  in  Mr.  Fisk's 
character.  He  was  not  satisfied  with  the  routine  of  indis- 
pensable duties,  nor  did  he  ever  shun  any  feasible  addition 


180 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


that  seemed  to  promise  usefulness.  Hence,  notwithstanding 
his  engagements,  he  formed  a  voluntary  theological  class 
of  students  who  had  the  ministry  in  view,  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  them  in  those  subjects  which  relate  to  the  sacred  of- 
fice. The  course,  to  be  sure,  was  not  very  extended  nor 
very  profound,  but  it  was  as  much  so  as  circumstances  justi- 
fied. It  was  entirely  gratuitous,  undertaken  without  any 
expectation  of  recompense  ;  nor  did  he  receive  any,  beside 
the  gratification  resulting,  save  only  a  handsome  copy  of  the 
Scriptures  as  a  token  of  grateful  esteem.* 

At  a  certain  time,  also,  when  the  school  was  in  need  of 
an  additional  teacher,  and  one  just  suited  could  not  be  found, 
he  selected  a  young  minister  but  indifferently  qualified,  and, 
that  he  might  appear  before  his  classes  with  credit,  regular- 
ly heard  him,  in  his  own  hours  of  relaxation,  through  every 
lesson  :  a  fact  affording  some  glimpse  of  the  difficulties  of 
his  undertaking. 

But  farther  :  the  institution  was  unable,  in  its  infancy,  to 
afford  the  principal  an  adequate  support.  Hence,  a  part  of 
the  time,  Mr.Fisk  supplied  the  pulpit  in  the  village,  and  dis- 
charged the  pastoral  duties,  for  which  he  received  no  addi- 
tion to  his  salary.  The  school  and  the  church  united  in  his 
support.  After  the  church  at  Wilbraham  was  supplied  with 
a  regular  pastor,  he  preached  on  the  Sabbath  in  some  of  the 
adjoining  villages.    In  several  of  these,  especially  at  South 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  learned  that  the  first  theological  class  in  the 
"Wesleyan  Academy  consisted  of  but  three  persons,  Messrs.  John  W.  Merrill, 
Charles  Adams,  and  Edward  Otheman.  These  young  gentlemen  had  for  some 
time  felt  the  necessity  of  enlarging  their  theological  acquirements ;  had  conversed 
together  and  prayed  over  their  embarrassment.  At  length  they  determined  to 
request  the  principal  to  meet  with  them  once  a  week  to  instruct  them.  They 
felt  that  it  was  rather  a  bold  step  to  ask  him  to  make  such  an  addition  to  his  la- 
bours for  so  small  a  number.  How  great,  then,  was  their  satisfaction,  when  he 
not  only  received  them  most  kindly,  but  cheerfully  and  promptly  acceded  to  their 
proposal.  Although,  therefore,  Dr.  Fisk  was  not  actually  the  originator  of  the 
class,  yet,  as  we  learn  from  Mrs.  Fisk,  he  had  long  been  meditating  something 
of  the  kind,  and  only  waited  a  favourable  opening.  This  was  the  incipient 
step  to  unforeseen  results.  The  trio  soon  increased  to  twenty  or  thirty.  The 
members  of  the  class  carried  the  plan  into  other  insticutions  with  which  they 
severally  became  connected,  and  the  impulse  thus  given  is  no  doubt  the  origin 
of  the  present  movements  in  favour  of  theological  education.  But  for  Mr.  Fisk's 
promptitude  and  devotion,  it  would  not  have  been  commenced,  or,  at  least,  not 
so  soon. 


LOVE  OF  LABOUR. 


181 


Hadley,  Ludlow,  and  other  places,  he  was  the  means  of  ex- 
tensive revivals  of  religion.  Springfield  also,  South  Wilbra- 
ham,  and,  indeed,  many  of  the  adjacent  towns  and  villages, 
were  blessed  with  fruitful  showers  of  grace,  in  the  labours 
of  which  our  subject  largely  participated.  Frequently,  too, 
feeble  as  his  health  was,  he  would  ride  six,  eight,  or  ten 
miles  in  the  evening,  after  preaching,  to  be  at  his  duties  in 
the  school  early  the  next  morning. 

While  at  Wilbraham  Mr.  Fisk  always  preached  or  lec- 
tured on  Tuesday  evenings,  in  the  dining-hall,  on  some  se- 
lected portion  of  Scripture,  in  regular  course.    In  this  way 
he  went  through  the  Decalogue,  taking  each  commandment 
for  a  subject.    He  also,  in  the  same  manner,  went  through 
our  Lord's  Sermon  on  the  Mount.    We  have  heard  these 
discourses  spoken  of  as  singularly  interesting  and  edifying. 
On  Sunday  and  Thursday  evenings  he  always,  when  able, 
attended  the  prayer-meetings  in  the  institution.  Wednes- 
day evening  was  uniformly  devoted  to  a  social  interview,  as 
it  was  called.    To  this  the  teachers  and  trustees,  with  their 
families,  were  invited,  as  well  as  the  scholars.   After  the  tea 
had  been  handed  round,  some  time  was  spent  in  social  con- 
versation, and  the  interview  was  closed  with  devotional  ex- 
ercises about  nine  o'clock.    The  design  of  this  was  to  ac- 
custom the  students  to  move  in  society,  to  improve  their 
manners  and  social  feelings,  to  teach  them  to  unite  the  amen- 
ities of  life  with  the  gravity,  dignity,  and  useful  aims  of  a 
graceful  piety.    These  little  attentions  to  the  manners  and 
feelings  of  his  scholars  tended  to  secure  public  favour  and 
promote  the  interests  of  the  school.    The  scholars  were  a 
happy  circle,  usually  very  much  attached  to  each  other,  as 
well  as  to  their  instructers.    Whether,  however,  this  inter- 
course of  male  and  female  pupils  was  likely  to  have  a  good 
influence  in  other  points  of  view,  I  do  not  so  well  know. 
Under  Mr.  Fisk's  management,  the  improper  tendencies 
might  .be  safely  guarded  against ;  but  in  some  cases  we 
should  have  doubts  of  it. 

The  annexed  account  of  a  revival  at  Wilbraham  Academy 
I  received  from  Mrs.  Fisk  : 

"  In  March  of  1828,  the  school  at  Wilbraham  was  favour- 
16 


182 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ed  with  a  very  general  and  deep  work  of  grace.  The  work 
commenced  without  any  previous  excitement,  except  my 
dear  husband's  calm,  faithful  preaching.  Our  steward  and 
stewardess  were  truly  heavenly-minded  persons,  but  very 
far  from  enthusiasts,  and  we  had  several  truly  pious  in  the 
school. 

"  One  day,  one  of  the  young  gentlemen, *  about  fifteen  years 
of  age,  said  to  his  young  friend,  '  Will  you  set  out  with  me 
to  serve  God  ?'    '  With  all  my  heart,'  was  the  reply  of  his 
young  friend.    The  next  evening,  in  the  social  prayer-meet- 
ing in  the  hall,  Rufus,  in  a  very  calm,  interesting,  and  sim- 
ple manner,  related  their  determination.    It  was  very  affect- 
ing.   The  simultaneous  thought,  that  if  these  two  youths, 
who  stand  high  with  the  officers  and  scholars  for  their  ami- 
able qualities,  need  conversion,  what  is  my  case  ?  seemed 
to  pervade  almost  every  heart,  and  produce  a  corresponding 
effect.    There  were  about  60  students  in  the  boarding-house 
family,  and  about  160  or  70  connected  with  the  school. 
Never  have  I  witnessed  such  a  solemn  scene.    For  nearly  a 
week  the  regular  duties  of  the  school  were  mostly  suspend- 
ed :  nor  could  you  put  your  foot  over  the  threshold  of  the 
door  at  the  boarding-house  without  hearing  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  from  almost  every  part  of  the  house. 
Often,  even  now,  do  those  interesting  meetings  come  in  re- 
view before  me.    If  you  can  imagine  a  group  of  more  than 
one  hundred  young  faces,  of  whom  scarcely  twenty  had  seen 
fifteen  years,  hanging  with  breathless  interest  on  every  word 
of  their  beloved  and  affectionate  principal,  with  eye  fixed, 
either  glistening  with  joy  or  dimmed  with  tears,  while  the 
prevailing  silence  would  permit  you  to  hear  the  falling  of  a 
pin  in  the  most  distant  part  of  that  spacious  room,  their  be- 
loved principal  in  their  midst,  in  all  the  simple  dignity  of  an 
ambassador  of  Christ,  with  his  little  pocket  Bible  in  hand, 
his  countenance  varying  as  he  sympathized  in  their  joy  and 
their  sorrow,  pointing  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  you  may 
form  a  faint  idea  of  the  scene. 

"  Its  fruit  has  been  lasting ;  some  of  them  you  know. 

*  Rufus  Black,  grandson  of  the  celebrated  English  missionary  to  Nova 
Scotia. 


REVIVAL  AT  WILBRAHAM. 


183 


Rev.  D.  Patten,  Rev.  O.  Baker,  Rev.  Morris  Hill,  and  I 
might  mention  a  score  of  others,  some  of  whom,  holding 
fast  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  have  taken  their  flight  upward, 
and,  I  doubt  not,  were  permitted  to  welcome  their  beloved 
principal  into  the  joys  of  their  Lord.'' 


184 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Journey  to  Pittsburgh. — General  Conference  of  1828. — Rev.  Joshua  RandelTs- 
Appeal. — Bishop  George. — Amusing  Incident. — Election  Sermon. — Honours 
conferred. — Elected  Bishop  of  Canada,  which  he  declines. — Letters. 

The  General  Conference  for  the  year  1828  was  held  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  and  Mr.  Fisk,  having  been  appointed  a  del- 
egate, commenced  his  journey,  in  company  with  some  of  his 
brother  delegates,  the  latter  part  of  April,  going  by  way  of 
Niagara  and  the  lakes.  He  shared  the  usual  fate  of  travel- 
lers by  that  route.  He  encountered  horrible  roads,  broke 
down,  arrived  repeatedly  at  the  end  of  a  stage  exactly  in 
time  to  see  the  next  coach  or  boat  go  off  without  him ;  was 
cheated  and  imposed  upon,  until  he  thought  that  a  goodly 
number  of  the  people  concerned  about  the  public  conveyan- 
ces deserved  to  be  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for  the  crime  of 
falsehood.  He  complained  bitterly  of  the  roads  f-om  Albany 
to  Schenectady,  and. from  Niagara  to  Buffalo.  Experience 
corrected  his  misjudgment.  "  How  foolish,"  he  says,  in  a 
letter  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  how  foolish  and  ignorant  I  was  to  call 
the  road  from  Niagara  to  Buffalo  bad.  So  indeed  I  thought 
it  till  I  left  Erie  ;  but,  compared  with  the  road  from  that 
place  to  this  city  (Pittsburgh),  I  can  call  nothing  bad  that  I 
ever  travelled  under  the  name  of  a  stage-road."  Part  of  the 
way,  too,  they  made  quite  remarkable  progress,  namely,  fif- 
teen miles  in  six  and  a  half  hours.  However,  this  proved 
an  advantage  to  our  traveller  ;  since,  by  the  courtesy  of  one 
of  the  stage  proprietors,  he  procured  a  horse,  and  accom- 
plished the  distance  in  three  hours,  thus  obtaining  three 
hours  of  much-needed  repose. 
"  The  company  stopped  at  Niagara  Falls  long  enough  to 
view  that  wonder  of  creation.  The  effect  of  this  stupendous 
scene  upon  different  minds  would  itself  be  a  study  not  un- 
worthy a  philosopher.  How  various  the  thoughts  and  asso- 
ciations it  awakens  in  the  diversity  of  its  beholders  !  Here 
is  a  company  of  ministers,  whose  thoughts  are  familiar  with 


IMPRESSIONS  OF  NIAGARA. 


185 


the  Divine  intelligence  as  set  forth  in  revelation  rather  than 
in  nature ;  who  contemplate  sublimity  rather  in  the  moral 
than  in  the  physical  world ;  and  whose  meditations  sponta- 
neously dwell  upon  the  invisible  and  eternal.  Does  this 
habit  of  thinking  deaden  or  quicken  the  sensibility  to  the 
beautiful  and  sublime  in  nature  ?  Let  us  hear.  One  of 
them — a  person  of  vigorous  and  capacious  mind,  but  with- 
out imagination,  and  of  phlegmatic  temperament — was  so 
excited  that  he  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  draw  near,  but 
stood  in  mute  astonishment  and  gazed  upon  the  scene  from 
a  distance.  Some  were  conscious  of  something  like  an  im- 
pulse to  cast  themselves  into  the  current,  and  tumble  down 
headlong  with  the  roaring  waters.  Mr.  Fisk  writes  :  "  For 
myself,  the  impression  was  too  awful  to  be  uttered.  As  I 
stood  quite  over  the  verge  of  the  foaming  cataract,  with  the 
perpendicular  falls  (160  feet),  the  rapids  above  and  the  foam 
below,  full  in  view,  it  seemed  to  me,  in  its  ceaseless  course, 
like  an  image  of  eternity  ;  and  in  its  rolling,  tumbling,  foam- 
ing, sparkling  billows,  its  resistless  currents,  its  eddying 
whirlpools,  its  all-ingulfing,  all-overwhelming  torrents,  it  ap- 
peared a  striking  image  of  those  fiery  steeps,  and  rolling 
billows,  and  noisy  caverns  where  the  spirits  of  the  lost  are 
tossed  in  ceaseless  horror."  A  remark  of  one  of  the  com- 
pany deserves  to  be  inserted  as  quite  unique :  Standing  on 
the  bridge  that  led  over  a  part  of  the  mighty  waters,  a  little 
above  the  perpendicular  pitch,  after  gazing  in  silent  admira- 
tion for  a  season,  he  turned  round,  and  throwing  up  his  arm, 
exclaimed,  with  great  apparent  feeling,  "  I  suppose,  if  all  the 
worlds  that  compose  this  vast  universe  were  so  united  by 
cogs  as  to  turn  each  other,  here  is  water-power  enough  to 
move  the  whole."  Did  the  spirit  of  utilitarianism  ever  con- 
ceive such  an  image  before  ? 
They  prosecuted  their  journey 

"  Through  moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field." 
"We  were  two  and  a  half  nights  and  two  days  rolling  in 
the  mud,  sometimes  walking  half-leg  deep  in  clay  mortar, 
sometimes  lifting  up  a  broken  stagecoach,  sometimes  going 
without  dinner  until  nine  o'clock  at  night,  and  the  whole 
time  without  sleep  save  what  we  could  get  in  a  stage,  sur- 
16*  A  a 


186 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ging  worse  than  any  vessel  in  the  roughest  sea,  and  every 
few  moments  in  imminent  danger  of  being  overturned."  Mr. 
Fisk,  however,  as  mentioned  before,  had,  in  regard  to  sleep, 
a  slight  advantage  over  his  companions.  On  reaching  Pitts- 
burgh he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Fisk  again,  and  after  an  account 
of  his  journey,  he  says,  "  However,  through  the  mercy  of 
God,  we  were  all  preserved,  and  brought  safe  from  any  fa- 
tal accident  to  this  city,  on  Friday  morning,  May  2d,  but  in 
a  miserable  plight,  I  assure  you.  Some  of  our  company  got 
so  nervous  from  fatigue,  want  of  sleep,  and  from  fear,  that 
they  would  cry  out  during  the  night  like  frightened  women 
or  children,  whenever  the  stage  fell  into  one  of  the  deep 
clay  ditches,  of  which  we  had  plenty.  For  myself,  I  was 
enabled  to  feel  very  calm  through  the  whole,  and  desire  to 
praise  God,  to  whose  kind  providence  I  attribute  our  pres- 
ervation and  my  present  comfortable  health."  Yet  his 
health  would  hardly  have  been  considered  comfortable  by 
most  people.  He  complained,  while  on  his  journey,  of  fe- 
verishness,  cold  chills,  and  an  aggravation  of  his  cough,  full 
violent  enough  at  all  times.  Tenacity  of  the  vital  powers 
was  always  a  striking  characteristic  of  his  physiological  sys- 
tem.* 

Arrived  at  his  place  of  destination,  Mr.  Fisk  was  soon  fully 
occupied  with  the  business  on  which  he  went.  In  a  few  days 
he  was  engaged  in  the  famous  appeal  of  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Randell.  This  person  thought  that  he  had  received  some 
new  light  in  regard  to  the  Atonement,  and  gave  birth  to  his 
ideas  in  the  shape  of  a  sermon.  The  doctrine  therein  set 
forth  was  condemned  by  the  New-England  Conference,  of 
which  he  was  a  member,  and  he  was  required  to  desist  from 
preaching  it.  To  this,  however,  he  would  not  submit.  Con- 
sequently, he  was  brought  to  trial  before  the  Conference  on 
a  charge  of  heretical  pravity.    This  was  in  1826. 

The  substance  of  his  theory  may  be  briefly  stated  thus  : 
namely,  that  the  atonement  of  Christ  extends  only  to  viola- 

*  From  Mrs.  Fisk  I  learn,  that  during  his  entire  journey  up  the  North  River  he 
raised  blood,  and,  indeed,  was  so  unwell  that,  had  he  not  improved  on  the  way, 
he  would  have  returned.  Even  as  it  was,  he  would  have  done  so  but  for  par- 
ticular engagements  at  the  Conference. 


REV.  JOSHUA  RANDELL's  APPEAL. 


187 


tions  of  the  "  Adamic  law,"  which  are  thereby  uncondition- 
ally cancelled;  while  the  violations  of  the  "Mediator's  law," 
the  "law  of  faith,"  or  new  covenant,  by  which  we  are  to  be 
finally  judged,  are  pardoned  on  condition  of  penitence,  faith, 
and  obedience. 

The  charge  was  resolved  into  two  specifications:  "  First : 
Denying  that  the  transgressions  of  the  law,  to  which  we  are 
personally  responsible,  and  by  which  we  are  finally  to  be 
judged,  have  had  any  atonement  made  for  them.  Second- 
ly:  Maintaining  that  the  infinite  claims  of  justice  upon  the 
transgressor  of  the  Divine  law  may,  upon  condition  of  the 
mere  acts  of  the  transgressor  himself,  be  relinquished  and 
given  up,  and  the  transgressor  pardoned  without  an  atone- 
ment." 

Upon  the  charge  and  specifications  he  was  tried,  convict- 
ed, and  expelled.  From  this  decision  Mr.  Randell  ap- 
pealed to  the  highest  tribunal  in  the  Church,  and  Mr.  Fisk 
was  appointed  by  his  brother  delegates  to  sustain  the  act 
of  their  Conference.  This  he  did  with  very  great  ability 
and  power.  As  the  clause  in  the  Discipline  under  which 
he  was  accused  is  that  which  concerns  "holding  and  dissem- 
inating doctrines  contrary  to  our  articles  of  religion,"  it  was 
necessary  to  explain  those  articles,  and  to  show  what  were 
the  views  of  our  standard  writers  on  this  subject.  He  there- 
fore explained,  in  the  first  place,  the  language  of  the  Dis- 
cipline, and  then  cited  at  length  the  testimony  of  Messrs. 
Wesley  and  Fletcher.  Then  he  exhibited  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  this  heresy  :  first,  in  destroying  the  harmony  of 
the  Divine  attributes ;  secondly,  in  leading  directly  to  various 
anti-evangelical  theories,  such  as  Pelagianism,  Socinianism, 
and  Universalism  ;  thirdly,  in  destroying  the  simplicity  of 
the  plan  of  salvation ;  and,  lastly,  in  overturning  the  cardi- 
nal principle  of  the  Gospel,  salvation  by  faith  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Towards  the  close  of  his  argument,  he  inge- 
niously presented  the  view  which  an  humble  believer  in  the 
atoning  blood  would  be  likely  to  take  of  this  doctrine ;  and, 
to  give  the  greater  vividness  to  his  sentiments,  he  persona- 
ted such  a  soul.  This  affords  a  fair  illustration  of  his  fre- 
quent manner  of  preaching.    Thus  he  expresses  himself : 


188 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"This,  sir,  is  what  so  deeply  interests  my  feelings  in  this 
subject.  This  doctrine  has  '  taken  away  my  Lord,'  and  has 
removed  him  so  far  over  several  laws,  and  buried  him  so 
deeply  beneath  the  curse  of  an  antiquated  covenant,  that  *  I 
know  not  where  to  find  him.'  I  need  such  a  close  and  inti- 
mate connexion  with  the  blood  of  the  Covenant,  that  I  wish 
to  come  very  near  to  my  dying  Lord : 

" 4  To  see  him  heave,  and  hear  him  groan, 
And  feel  his  gushing  blood.' 

And  it  is  this  method  of  preaching  the  Atonement  which 
gives  such  energy  and  success  to  the  Gospel.  And  this,  sir, 
is  the  way  we  preach :  it  is  the  way  our  fathers  preached. 
The  venerable  Wesley,  and  his  assistants  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  used  to  preach  the  blood  of  the  Covenant,  as  it  was 
warm  and  gushing  from  the  fountain  that  was  opened  for 
Judah  and  Jerusalem  to  wash  in.  According  to  their 
preaching,  the  Atonement  was  not  completed  in  its  merits 
and  efficacy  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  but  it  is  a  stand- 
ing sacrifice :  therefore  they  believed  and  sung, 

"  '  Thy  offering  still  continues  new, 
Thy  vesture  keeps  its  bloody  hue, 
Thou  stand'st  the  ever-slaughter'd  Lamb, 
Thy  priesthood  still  remains  the  same.' 

This  finished  salvation  by  the  Atonement,  for  all  laws  or 
for  one  law,  never,  I  believe,  entered  into  their  creed  :  and 
if  the  departed  Wesley  were  here  himself  to  witness  our  de- 
liberations in  this  highest  council  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  should  mark  with  what  tenacity  we  .adhered  to 
the  forms  and  modes  of  expression  which  he  has  left  us,  would 
he  not  charge  us,  like  our  Divine  Master,  while  we  tithe  mint, 
and  anise,  and  cummin,  not  to  omit  the  weightier  matters  of 
the  law  ?  Would  he  not  enjoin  upon  us  to  guard  with  a  holy 
vigilance  these  important  doctrines,  which  are  a  legacy,  not  of 
Wesley,  but  of  Christ  himself?  and  especially  that  which  of 
all  others  is  the  most  fundamental,  the  doctrine  of  the  Atone- 
ment ?  It  is,  sir,  in  defence  of  the  doctrine  of  our  Church ; 
it  is  in  defence  of  the  preaching  of  our  fathers,  and  of  your 
preaching,  sir,  and  the  preaching  of  the  great  body  of  our 
ministers  throughout  the  connexion,  in  Europe  and  America; 


REPORT  ON  EDUCATION. 


189 


it  is  in  defence  of  all  that  is  evangelical  in  faith,  and  all  that 
is  dear  in  experience,  that  we  ask  this  General  Conference 
to  affirm  the  decision  of  the  New-England  Conference  in  this 
case." 

Dr.  Bangs,  in  his  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  observes,*  "  After  a  full,  and,  as  was  acknowledged 
by  the  defendant  himself,  an  impartial  examination  and  hear- 
ing of  the  case,  the  decree  of  the  New-England  Conference 
was  affirmed  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  out  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  who  were  present  and  voted  on 
the  question,  two  members,  at  their  own  request,  being  ex- 
cused from  voting  either  way."  This  was  not  only  highly 
honourable  to  the  clearness,  force,  and  eloquence  of  the 
speaker,  but  strikingly  illustrative  of  the  unanimity  of  the 
Methodist  ministry  on  doctrinal  points. 

Mr.  Fisk,  at  this  session  of  the  General  Conference,  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  education — one  of  the  stand- 
ing committees  of  the  body.  The  report  was  his  produc- 
tion. It  is  the  most  satisfactory  and  able  document  which 
had  been  presented  on  the  subject.  At  the  session  of  1820, 
a  resolution  was  passed  recommending  the  establishment  of 
a  classical  school  by  each  Conference  ;  but,  up  to  the  session 
of  1824,  only  three  or  four  had  followed  the  direction.  In 
1828,  as  appears  from  the  report,  there  were  seven  schools 
in  successful  operation,  and  three  others  in  an  incipient 
state  ;  while  there  were  two  colleges  successfully  established, 
and  another  in  contemplation.  After  exhibiting  the  condi- 
tion of  these  several  institutions,  the  report  closes  by  vigor- 
ously enforcing  the  subject  upon  the  attention  of  the  Church. 
This  exhibits  as  rapid  an  advancement  in  the  enterprise  as 
could  be  reasonably  expected  from  the  comparative  infancy 
of  the  body.  Appended  to  the  report  were  resolutions  ap- 
proving of  the  general  cause,  and  recommending,  in  addition, 
to  the  academies,  the  establishment  of  several  institutions 
of  a  collegiate  character.  This  document,  adopted  as  it 
was  by  the  highest  ecclesiastical  judicatory,  and  published  in 
our  leading  periodical,  served,  no  doubt,  to  give  an  addi- 
tional impulse  to  the  cause  of  education  in  the  Methodist 
community. 

*  Vol.  iii.,  p.  386. 


190 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


On  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Conference,  Mr.Fisk 
immediately  returned  to  Wilbraham,  and  resumed  his  du- 
ties in  the  academy. 

The  autumn  of  1828  is  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the 
Methodist  Church  for  the  death  of  Bishop  George.  Soon 
after  this  event,  Mr.  Fisk  wrote  the  following  sketch  of  his 
character  in  a  lady's  album.  It  was  afterward  inserted  in  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 

4 'BISHOP  GEORGE. 

"Bishop  George  has  gone  to  Heaven.  He  left  this  world 
for  glory,  at  the  rising  of  the  sun  on  the  23d  of  August  last; 
and  from  the  known  tendency  of  his  soul  heavenward,  and 
his  joyous  haste  to  be  gone,  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  his 
chariot  of  fire  reached  the  place  of  its  destination  speedily ; 
and  the  triumphant  saint  has,  long  ere  this,  taken  his  seat  with 
the  heavenly  company.  And,  since  he  is  gone,  the  owner  of 
this,  to  whom  I  am  a  stranger,  will  pardon  me  if,  upon  one 
of  her  pages,  I  register  my  affectionate  remembrance  of  a 
man  whom  I  both  loved  and  admired,  and  at  the  report  of 
whose  death  my  heart  has  been  made  sick.  I  loved  him, 
for  he  was  a  man  of  God,  devoted  to  the  Church  with  all 
his  soul  and  strength  ;  I  loved  him,  for  his  was  an  affection- 
ate heart,  and  he  was  my  friend.  But  the  servant  of  God, 
the  servant  of  the  Church,  and  my  friend,  is  dead.  I  ad- 
mired him — not  for  his  learning,  for  he  was  not  a  learned 
man  ;  but  Nature  had  done  much  for  him.  She  had  fash- 
ioned his  soul  after  an  enlarged  model,  and  had  given  it  an 
original  cast  and  an  independent  bearing  ;  into  the  heart 
she  had  instilled  the  sweetening  influences  of  a  tender  sym- 
pathy, and  infused  into  the  soul  the  fire  of  a  spirit-stirring 
zeal,  sustained  by  a  vigorous  and  an  untiring  energy ;  but, 
to  finish  the  character,  grace  came  in,  and  renewed  the  whole 
man ;  and  the  Spirit  anointed  him  to  preach  the  Gospel ; 
and  the  Church  consecrated  him  to  be  one  of  her  bishops. 
He  superintended  with  dignity  and  faithfulness  ;  he  preached 
the  Gospel  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  Heaven. 
The  unction  that  attended  his  word  was  not  merely  like  the 
consecrating  oil  that  ran  down  Aaron's  beard,  but  it  was  like 


AMUSING  INCIDENT. 


191 


the  anointing  of  the  Spirit  that  penetrates  the  heart.  He 
preached  wkh  his  soul  full  of  glory  ;  no  wonder,  then,  that 
his  dying  words  were,  '/  am  going!  and  thaVs  enough! 
glory  !  glory  V  Yes,  thou  triumphant  saint,  that  is  enough. 
i  May  I  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  may  my  last  end 
be  like  his.'  " 

We  have  already  had  some  proof  of  Mr.Fisk's  tact  in 
management  and  fertility  of  expedient  in  difficulties.  A 
somewhat  amusing  incident,  in  farther  illustration  of  the  same 
trait,  occurred  in  November,  1828.  He  received  a  letter 
from  a  clergyman  of  an  adjoining  town,  bitterly  complain- 
ing that  a  certain  student  of  the  academy — a  licensed  ex- 
horter — had  been  endeavouring  to  proselyte  two  young  ladies 
of  his  charge.  The  letter  is  quite  remarkable  for  its  pecu- 
liarities in  orthography,  etymology,  and  syntax,  to  say  no- 
thing of  prosody  and  rhetoric,  or  logic  and  good  sense.  It 
assumes  a  very  dignified  and  important  air,  enlarges  upon 
the  duty  of  "  religious  public  teachers,"  and  the  courtesy  due 
to  other  denominations.  It  then  prefers  the  charge  above 
named  against  the  aforesaid  member  of  the  institution,  alle- 
ging sundry  Lilliputian  specifications.  In  a  postscript,  it  as- 
signs as  the  reason  for  addressing  Mr.  Fisk,  first,  that  he  under- 
stood that  the  party  concerned  "was  not  in  these  parts;"  and 
secondly,  because  he  "  supposed  that  the  students  were  sent 
out  into  the  country  and  villages  around  about  at  his  discre- 
tion and  under  his  direction." 

To  this  singular  billet  Mr.  Fisk  replied  that  he  was  both 
surprised  and  pained  at  the  grievous  complaint  alleged 
against  one  whom  he  had  before  highly  esteemed  ;  express- 
ed his  disapprobation  of  the  proceedings  mentioned  by  his 
correspondent ;  that  he  had,  according  to  our  form  of  Dis- 
cipline, preferred  charges  against  said  student,  who  would 
be  called  to  trial  thereupon  by  the  stationed  minister  before 
a  committee  ;  and  that  he  should  depend  on  him,  the  accu- 
ser, to  appear,  with  what  testimony  he  could  bring,  to  sub- 
stantiate said  charges.  Here  was  an  unforeseen  dilemma. 
A  letter  was  returned,  saying  that  the  complainant  had  been 
a  trifle  too  positive  ;  that  the  facts  were  only  reported  to 


192 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


him  by  others  ;  and  declining  to  appear  at  said  trial,  partly 
because  it  would  be  "  quite  inconvenient  to  attend,"  and 
also  because  he  had  "no  particular  desire  to  attend,  if  it  were 
more  convenient."  Nevertheless,  the  trial  took  place  ;  and 
it  appeared,  from  the  testimony  of  the  young  women  them- 
selves, that  one  of  them  was  a  Methodist  before  she  saw  the 
accused ;  that  neither  had  been  in  company  with  him  but 
once,  and  that  by  accident ;  and  that  no  such  attempt  at 
proselyting  had  been  made.  This  testimony  was  confirmed 
by  other  respectable  persons  who  were  present,  and  heard 
the  conversation  alluded  to.  The  accused  was,  of  course, 
acquitted.  Nevertheless,  the  same  conscientious  and  deli- 
cate clergyman  addressed  a  letter  to  the  minister  presiding  at 
the  trial,  "making  himself  merry  with  the  investigation,  and, 
by  a  low  anecdote  of  a  sailor,  gave  him  to  understand  that 
the  committee  cleared  him  because  they  were  determined  to 
clear  him,  right  or  wrong  :"  the  same  anecdote  implying 
that,  if  his  Church  had  tried  him,  they  would  have  condemn- 
ed him,  right  or  wrong  ! 

Such  trivialities  would  be  hardly  worth  recording,  were  it 
not  that  the  follies  of  some  men  serve  for  beacon-lights  to 
others.  We  give  the  facts  because  they  may  be  useful ;  to 
give  the  names  would  gratify  no  virtuous  sentiment:  let 
them  sleep  in  peace. 

In  January,  1829,  Mr.  Fisk  was  elected  by  the  Senate  of 
Massachusetts  to  preach  their  next  Election  Sermon,  on  the 
last  Wednesday  of  May  ensuing.  On  this  occasion  he  de- 
livered the  sermon  on  1st  Peter,  iv.,  7  :  "  But  the  end  of 
all  things  is  at  hand  ;  be  ye  therefore  sober,  and  watch  unto 
prayer."  It  was  prepared,  like  his  other  productions,  in  the 
midst  of  multifarious  occupations,  and  written  partly,  if  not 
entirely,  on  the  road.  It  is  a  plain,  faithful,  sensible  dis- 
course, though  not  equal  to  his  former  election  sermon.  It 
was  published,  according  to  usage,  by  a  vote  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and  also  inserted  in  the  National  Preacher,  conduct- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Austin  Dickinson,  at  New- York. 

Mr.  Fisk's  name  had  now  risen  into  a  very  commanding 
notoriety,  and  his  talents  and  influence  became  greatly  in 
request  in  various  important  fields  of  usefulness.    He  was 


FLATTERING  OFFERS. 


193 


solicited,  with  strong  assurances  of  success,  to  become  a 
candidate  for  the  vacant  presidency  of  the  Vermont  Univer- 
sity at  Burlington.  He  was  solicited  to  take  an  agency  in 
the  Bible  Society.  He  was  requested  by  the  Hampden 
county  Temperance  Society  to  become  their  agent.  He 
was  also  appointed,  in  1829,  a  general  agent  of  the  Society 
to  promote  the  Observance  of  the  Sabbath,  with  a  salary 
of  one  thousand  dollars  and  travelling  expenses.  He  was 
elected  the  same  year  to  fill  the  presidential  chair  of  La 
Grange  College,  then  just  going  into  operation;  and  about 
the  same  time  he  was  elected  a  professor  in  the  University 
of  Alabama,  at  Tuscaloosa,  with  a  salary  of  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  a  prospect  of  being  chosen  president.  But  that 
which  had  the  greatest  weight  with  him  was  his  election,  the 
preceding  year,  to  the  office  of  general  superintendent,  or 
bishop  of  the  Canada  Conference.  This  branch  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  family  had,  by  consent  of  the  late  General  Conference, 
on  account  of  the  inconvenience  of  holding  their  civil  and 
ecclesiastical  relations  under  different  governments,  separa- 
ted from  the  Church  in  the  United  States  ;  and,  desiring  to 
retain  the  episcopal  form  of  government,  they  unanimously 
and  cordially  elected  Mr.  Fisk  to  the  episcopal  office. 
Though  the  labour  and  privations  would  be  greater,  and  the 
stipend  smaller  than  in  some  of  his  other  offers,  yet  these 
had  no  farther  influence  with  him  than  so  far  as  his  health 
was  concerned.  Duty  was  what  he  consulted ;  and  duty, 
after  serious  deliberation,  prompted  him  to  write  the  annex- 
ed letter  to  the  Rev.  Egerton  Ryerson,  through  whom  he 
had  received  official  notice  of  his  election.  Mr.  Ryerson's 
letter  was  dated  November  27th,  1828 : 

"March  30,  1829. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

"  My  long  delay  to  answer  your  esteemed  favour  of  No- 
vember last  has  not  been  occasioned  by  an  indifference  and 
an  inattention  to  its  contents  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  deep 
solicitude  I  have  felt  to  weigh  the  subject  well,  to  watch  the 
openings  of  Divine  providence,  and  decide  in  the  best  light, 
has  induced  me  to  deliberate  and  postpone  my  answer  to 
17  B  b 


194 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  F1SK. 


the  present  time.  All  my  deliberations,  however,  upon  this 
subject  have  resulted  in  the  confirmation  of  my  earliest  im- 
pressions in  relation  to  it,  that  it  will  not  be  consistent  for 
me  to  accept  of  the  affectionate  and  flattering  invitation  of 
the  Canada  Conference.  I  have  not  come  to  this  conclusion 
without  feeling  the  influence  of  contrary  motives.  My  high 
sense  of  the  honour  you  have  done  me  is  enhanced  by  the 
consideration  that  the  '  nomination  was  unanimous  and 
warm.''  While  I  highly  appreciate  and  cordially  recipro- 
cate those  warm  and  concurrent  expressions  of  confidence 
and  affection,  I  also  look  back  upon  this  union  in  the  elec- 
tion as  an  encouraging  token  that  my  labours  among  you 
might  be  useful.  The  information  I  have  of  the  character 
of  the  Conference,  joined  with  my  personal  acquaintance 
with  some  of  its  members,  convinces  me  that  whoever  su- 
perintends the  Canada  Church  will  have  a  charge  that  will 
cheer  his  heart  and  hold  up  his  hands  in  his  official  duties. 
On  this  point  I  have  no  scruples,  and  therefore  here  there  is 
nothing  to  discourage,  but  much  to  invite  my  acceptance. 
Equally  encouraging  and  inviting  are  the  growing  prospects 
of  your  country  and  your  Church,  and  especially  of  your  mis- 
sionary stations.  These,  to  a  man  of  missionary  enterprise, 
who  loves  to  bear  the  banners  of  the  cross,  and  push  its  vic- 
tories more  and  more  upon  the  territories  of  darkness  and  of 
sin,  are  motives  of  high  and  almost  inevitable  influence;  and 
they  have  so  affected  my  mind,  that,  although  my  local  at- 
tachments to  the  land  of  my  fathers,  and  to  that  branch  of 
the  Church  in  which  I  was  born  and  have  been  nourished, 
are  strong  ;  although  my  aged  and  decrepit  parents  lean 
upon  me  to  support  their  trembling  steps  as  they  descend  to 
the  tomb ;  although  I  might  fear  the  influence  of  your  cli- 
mate upon  an  infirm  constitution,  always  predisposed  to  bil- 
ious complaints,  yet  these  considerations,  strengthened  as 
they  are  by  a  consciousness  of  my  own  inability,  and  by  the 
almost  unanimous  dissuasion  of  my  friends,  would  hardly 
of  themselves,  perhaps,  have  induced  mc  to  decline  your  in- 
vitation. But,  in  addition  to  all  these,  I  am  connected  with 
a  literary  institution  that  promises,  as  we  flatter  ourselves, 
much  advantage  to  the  Church  and  to  the  public,  but  which 


DISINTERESTEDNESS. 


195 


is  as  yet  under  circumstances  that  will  require  close  and  un- 
remitting attention  for  some  time  to  come,  to  give  it  that 
direction  and  permanency  which  will  secure  its  usefulness. 
If  it  should  fail  to  receive  that  attention  and  care,  not  only 
will  its  present  prosperity  be  blighted,  but  all  that  has 
been  done  will  be  lost.  How  far  my  leaving  this  institution 
would  hazard  its  standing  and  prospects,  is  not  for  me  to 
decide  ;  but  perhaps  it  may  be  just  and  becoming  for  me  to 
say  that,  by  whatever  arguments  it  may  be  shown  that  an- 
other might  supply  my  place  in  this  institution,  by  the  same 
or  better  arguments  it  might  be  urged  that  another  might 
successfully  fill  the  more  responsible  office  of  superintendent 
over  the  Canada  Church  ;  and,  while  I  feel  a  lively  inter- 
est for  that  branch  of  our  Zion,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  be- 
lieve that  one  may  and  will  be  selected  to  fill  that  place  in 
your  labours  and  affections,  of  which  I  am  at  best  but  un- 
worthy, and  from  a  participation  in  which  I  am  detained  by 
other  duties. 

"  Permit  me,  dear  brother,  through  you,  to  express  to  your 
Conference,  as  a  body,  my  sincere  acknowledgments  for 
their  confidence  and  affection  manifested  towards  me,  and 
assure  them  that  they  shall  live  in  my  affections  and  my 
prayers ;  and  accept  for  yourself  my  sentiments  of  esteem 
and  Christian  love,  while  I  subscribe  myself  your  brother 
and  fellow-labourer  in  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour. 
"  Yours  affectionately,  W.  Fisk." 

To  some  it  may  appear  unaccountable  that  Mr.  Fisk 
should  decline  situations  so  important,  and  one  of  them,  es- 
pecially, so  elevated  and  responsible,  for  the  sake  of  an  in- 
fant academy.  But  those  who  consider  his  relation  to  the 
cause  of  education  in  the  Church  of  his  choice  ;  the  infancy 
and  feebleness  of  that  cause  ;  the  scarcity,  at  that  time,  of 
suitable  men  to  fill  his  place ;  and  the  disastrous  conse- 
quences of  a  failure  in  the  academy  which  had  been  estab- 
lished with  such  difficulty,  and  so  many  expectations,  will 
probably  admit  the  wisdom  of  his  decision.  Though  liberal 
to  all  truly  Christian  denominations,  yet  he  was,  from  the 
deepest  convictions  of  his  heart  and  understanding,  a  de- 


196 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


cided  Methodist,  and  conscientiously  devoted  to  her  ad- 
vancement. No  offers,  therefore,  that  tended  to  detach  him 
from  her  interests,  however  advantageous  in  other  respects, 
found  a  moment's  entertainment  with  him.  To  such  pro- 
posals he  replied,  as  when  he  had  a  liberal  offer  to  induce 
him  to  become  a  settled  minister  in  another  persuasion : 
"  This  would  build  up  Willbur  Fisk,  but  it  would  not  build 
up  Methodism. "*  In  the  same  spirit,  he  says  to  his  excel- 
lent father,  in  a  letter,  after  mentioning  some  of  the  above- 
named  invitations,  u  All  these  I  have  declined.  Have  I 
done  right  ?  I  know  not  what  awaits  me  here  ;  but  my 
mind  leads  me,  for  the  present,  to  keep  this  post  in  preference 
to  any  other  that  has  yet  been  presented.  Perhaps  I  shall 
hereafter  be  sorry,  but  I  go  according  to  my  present  light, 
and  leave  the  event  with  God.  Money  looks  to  me  like  a 
trifling  consideration  when  compared  with  usefulness.  It  is 
true,  I  need  a  living,  but  I  have  that  here  ;  and,  having  food 
and  raiment,  I  desire  to  be  therewith  content. " 

It  is  this  fact  which  gave  his  conduct  a  loftier  moral. 
He  had,  indeed,  food  and  raiment,  and  no  more.  While  he 
was  doing  the  work  of  three  men,  he  received  but  a  scanty 
support  for  one.  This,  however,  was  not  the  fault  of  the 
trustees  ;  the  finances  of  the  school  were  too  restricted  to 
allow  him  a  larger  stipend  ;  but  he  found  it  inadequate  to  the 
necessary  demands  of  his  station  ;  and,  to  remedy  this,  he 
consented  to  receive  some  persons  into  his  family  as  boarders. 

Under  other  circumstances,  the  trustees  could  not  have 
been  justified  in  allowing  this.  It  is  much  wiser  and  more 
economical  for  an  institution  or  a  church  to  pay  its  teachers 
or  ministers  a  salary  that  will  command  all  their  time  and 
attention  in  the  most  profitable  manner,  rather  than  compel 
them  to  spend  a  great  part  of  it  in  trivialities,  or  be  embar- 
rassed by  domestic  solicitude.  It  is  miserable  economy  to 
allow  a  man,  whose  labour  is  worth  fifty  or  a  hundred  dol- 
lars a  month,  to  do  work  that  a  man  might  be  hired  to  do 
for  ten  or  fifteen.  Penuriousness  is  far  from  being  econom- 
ical. But,  in  the  above  case,  the  motives  sufficiently  excul- 
pate the  parties. 

*  Methodism,  in  Mr.  Fisk's  acceptation,  was  synonymous  with  the  purest 
form  of  Christianity. 


MADE  DOCTOR  OF  DIVINITY. 


197 


In  the  summer  of  this  year  (1829)  Mr.Fisk  received  from 
Augusta  College,  in  Kentucky,  the  title  of  doctor  of  divini- 
ty. At  first  he  resolved  not  to  accept  it,  observing,  "  Neither 
my  age,  learning,  nor  piety  entitles  me  to  such  an  honour.'' 
Others  thought  differently  ;  and  the  title  was  immediately 
and  so  generally  applied  to  him,  that  modesty  and  humility 
required  that  he  should  be  passive,  rather  than  by  a  violent 
refusal  make  himself  an  object  of  public  attention  and  re- 
mark. 

A  few  letters,  or  extracts  from  letters  to  his  friends,  will 
exhibit  something  of  the  habitual  tendency  of  his  thoughts 
about  this  period,  and  will  form  an  appropriate  conclusion 
of  the  present  chapter.  The  first  is  addressed  to  one  of 
his  former  flock,  who  was  spending  some  time  at  a  southern 
city  for  the  benefit  of  her  health,  where  she  was  greatly  ex- 
posed to  the  influence  of  worldly  associations. 

"  Wilbraham,  January  27,  1828. 

"  Dear  Sister  M  , 

u  You  have  been  long  enough  acquainted  with  me  to  make 
allowances  for  my  delays  in  my  epistolary  correspondence. 
I  thought  I  should  have  written  you  before  you  left  the  state ; 
but,  failing  in  this,  I  resolved  to  write  while  in  Boston,  during 
a  late  visit  there.  But  in  this  too  I  failed  ;  still,  I  remem- 
ber my  obligations,  and  I  feel  it  my  duty  and  my  pleas- 
ure to  fulfil  them.    I  found  in  my  last  visit  very  lonely ; 

and  the  remembrance  of  former  scenes  and  former  days 
pressed  upon  my  mind  with  great  emphasis  the  images  and 
characters  of  those  who  once  inhabited  and  cheered  the  now 
changed  and  almost  deserted  dwelling.  Two  only  of  the 
seven  now  remained  the  tenants  of  that  cheerful  and  happy 
habitation,  where  so  many  hours  of  social  joys  and  devout 
exercises  have  been  spent ;  but  those  two  remain  unchanged. 
A.  is  the  same  pleasant  and  affectionate  friend,  save  perhaps 
that  her  flow  of  humour  and  bursts  of  wit  have  been  changed 
to  a  more  sombre  cast  of  mind  by  the  lapse  of  time,  and  es- 
pecially by  a  change  of  circumstances.  Your  mother,  not- 
withstanding the  sorrow  she  has  waded  through  since  I  last 
saw  her,  seems  the  exact  image  of  herself.  I  thought,  in- 
17* 


198 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


deed,  when  I  first  met  her,  that  sorrow  had  chilled  her  soul, 
and  cooled  her  affection  for  all  that  were  left  ;  but  I  soon 
discovered  my  mistake ;  doubtless,  at  the  first,  the  past  rush- 
ed upon  her  mind,  and  produced  feelings  that  she  could  not 
immediately  overcome  ;  she  soon  rose  above  them,  and  I 
found  her  the  same  I  have  ever  found  her  since  our  first  ac- 
quaintance. Her  uniform  friendship  to  me,  her  repeated 
proofs  of  kind  feeling,  will  not  be  easily  forgotten. 

"I  went  the  accustomed  round  in  ,  enjoyed  my  usual 

satisfaction  in  visiting  those  whose  interest  once  lay  so  near 
my  heart,  and  in  whose  service  I  had  wellnigh  laid  down 
my  life.  I  find  the  flock  still  small  and  feeble  ;  they  have  a 
little  strength  left,  and  have  not,  I  trust,  as  a  body,  denied 
the  Saviour's  name,  though  some  have  turned  again  to  fol- 
ly, and  others,  I  hope,  have  gone  to  Heaven.  May  the  re- 
mainder get  safe  through  in  due  time,  and  walk  with  Christ 
in  white,  being  found  worthy.  My  sister,  may  this  be  your 
happy  lot.  God  forbid  that  the  flatteries  of  this  world,  or 
the  gilded  prospects  of  earth,  should  ever  draw  you  from  the 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  Will  you 
pardon  me  when  I  tell  you  i" fear?  Already  I  see,  or  think 
I  see,  the  blandishments  of  worldly  hope,  and  the  influence 
of  worldly  associations,  have  stirred  up  the  rudiments  of 
pride  and  ambition  that  were  once,  by  the  influence  of  grace, 
precipitated  to  the  bottom  and  rendered  almost  invisible,  and 
the  pure  waters  of  heavenly-mindedness  and  spiritual  devo- 
tion, that  once  shone  in  your  bosom  with  such  holy  transpa- 
rency, may  have  become  defiled  thereby.  Is  it  not  so  ?  Is 
there  not  cause  to  fear  ?  But  I  forbear  by  commending  you 
to  God,  and  praying  that  your  faith  fail  not.  I  am  also  ad- 
monished that  I  have  cause  of  fear  for  myself,  and  that  I 
ought — as  over  you,  so  over  myself — to  be  jealous  with  a 
godly  jealousy.  Permit  me  to  entreat  of  you  to  return  in 
the  spring.  If  you  do  not  wish  to  find  your  grave  in  the 
South,  return.  I  am  fearful  it  will  not  be  the  best  for  your 
spiritual  health  to  stay  too  long  in  ,  and  I  am  very  con- 
fident it  will  be  at  the  hazard  of  your  life  if  you  attempt  to 
summer  there." 


CHRISTIAN  LETTERS. 


199 


To  the  Misses  O. 

"Wilbraham,  February  12th,  1828. 
"  I  received  your  friendly  letter,  dear  sister  or  sisters,  for 
which  I  thank  you.  I  arrived  home  the  second  day  after  I 
left  Boston,  without  suffering  any  serious  inconvenience, 
though  the  weather  was  extremely  cold.  My  health,  how- 
ever, was  somewhat  impaired,  but  is  now  restored.  My 
family  is  in  usual  health,  and  our  concerns  here  are  prosper- 
ous. But  God  has  been  speaking  to  the  people  of  this  place 
by  death  and  sickness,  and  it  remains  to  be  proved  whether 
the  people  will  hear.  We  have  at  present  no  special  move 
among  the  people.  As  for  myself,  I  find  my  business  en- 
grossing all  my  time,  and,  when  it  comes  Sabbath,  I  try  to 
preach  the  best  I  can  ;  sometimes  with  some  satisfaction  to 
myself,  and  at  other  times  I  find  my  communications,  like  the 
bones  of  Ezekiel's  vision,  f  very  dry.'  I  have,  however, 
some  satisfaction  in  reflecting  upon  the  pleasant  season  I  had 
in  Charlestown  and  Boston  when  I  was  down  ;  and  especially 
does  it  give  me  satisfaction  to  think  your  little  society  ap- 
peared to  be  rising,  and  its  prospects  brightening.  I  hope 
these  appearances  will  not  prove  to  be  deceptive  ;  and  I  am 
sure  they  will  not,  if  you  all  stand  in  the  liberty  of  the  Gos- 
pel, wherewith  Christ  has  made  you  free.  I  think,  when  our 
dear  friends  in  Charlestown  all  learn  to  go  and  tell  their 
brother  or  sister  their  faults,  in  the  spirit  of  love  and  meek- 
ness, then  they  will  find  their  words  of  love  drawing  them 
closer  and  closer  together.  I  hope  all  will  learn  this  lesson  ; 
and  I  hope  you,  my  dear  sisters,  will  get  your  own  souls  un- 
der the  droppings  of  the  Holy  Sanctuary,  and  feel  that  con- 
stant communion  with  God,  and  refreshings  from  the  pres- 
ence of  God,  that  will  cheer  your  souls,  and  strengthen  your 
faith,  and  confirm  you  in  grace  ;  and  I  hope,  too,  I  shall 
have  an  interest  in  your  prayers,  that  my  soul  may  be  always 
alive  in  the  holy  exercises  of  faith  and  love. 

"  I  heard  last  Sabbath  a  very  devoted  young  person  give 
in  a  remarkably  clear  testimony  in  favour  of  that  perfect  love 
which  casteth  out  fear,  and  her  very  words  carried  convic- 
tion that  it  was  even  so.    It  was  something  like  some  of 


200 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


those  testimonies  I  used  to  hear  in  Bromfield-lane  Vestry 
in  former  years.  O,  there  is  something  so  convincing,  so 
heavenly,  so  solemn  in  the  spiritual  communications  of  a  full 
heart,  that  nothing  on  earth  can  equal  it.  May  God  give  us 
all  that  fulness." 

To  his  Mother. 

"  Wilbraham,  September  3,  1828. 

"Dear  Mother, 

"  I  take  this  opportunity  to  fulfil  my  promise,  made  in  my 
last  letter  to  father,  that  I  would  soon  write  to  you.  The 
soon  has  not  come  very  quick,  you  may  think ;  however,  it 
has  not  been  out  of  my  mind ;  but  for  want  of  time  how  to 
perform  what  I  promised,  I  have  found  not.  We  have  had 
our  annual  trustee  meeting  since  I  returned  from  Confer- 
ence, and  also  a  meeting  of  our  board  of  visiters  ;  which,  to- 
gether with  the  reports  I  have  had  to  prepare  for  them,  the 
attention  I  have  had  to  pay  to  students  who  were  leaving  at 
the  close  of  the  term,  attending  the  dedication  of  a  meet- 
ing-house down  in  Connecticut,  and  also  a  camp-meeting ; 
attending  to  the  necessary  preparation  for  furnishing  my 
house  and  getting  into  it ;  visiting  a  reformation  at  South 
Hadley  Canal,  and  labouring  some  there,  and  forming  a  so- 
ciety, all  have  contributed,  as  you  may  well  suppose,  some- 
thing to  that  tax  which  has  claimed  the  whole  of  my  time 
and  attention  since  I  returned  home ;  and  even  now,  were 
it  not  for  the  affliction  of  a  severe  cold,  by  which  I  am  pre- 
vented from  being  abroad  on  business,  I  know  not  that  I 
should  find  time  to  stay  to  write  to  you.  Do  not  think,  how- 
ever, that,  amid  my  various  duties,  I  have  lost  any  sense  of 
my  obligations  to  my  parents.  This  is  certainly  not  true. 
It  has  been  said  that  parents  will  not  forget  their  children, 
but  childen  may  their  parents.  I  cannot  answer  for  others, 
but  this  saying  is  not  true  in  my  case.  I  feel  my  obligations 
to  my  parents,  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  give  them  aid  and 
comfort,  strongly  as  ever.  I  owe  too  much  to  my  parents  to 
suffer  time,  or  distance,  or  circumstances  to  efface  their  im- 
age from  my  heart.  I  have  indeed,  dear  mother,  sympa- 
thized with  you  in  your  late  affliction,  and  should  have  been 


LETTER  TO  HIS  MOTHER. 


201 


glad  to  visit  you  before  this,  if  I  could  have  found  oppor- 
tunity. I  rejoice,  however,  to  hear  that  the  comforts  of 
that  salvation  which  you  have  so  long  professed  and  en- 
joyed have  sustained  you  ;  yea,  and  I  hope  that  this  afflic- 
tion has,  even  here,  wrought  out  for  you  a  greater  degree  of 
this  salvation  than  you  have  ever  before  experienced.  Per- 
haps your  heavenly  Father  saw  that  there  was  some  imper- 
fection of  experience,  some  defect  in  one  or  more  of  the 
Christian  graces,  or  some  want  of  reconciliation  to  existing 
circumstances,  which  nothing  would  so  readily  remedy  as  the 
present  affliction.  When  its  bitterness  shall  have  passed 
away,  God  grant  that  it  may  be  found  a  message  of  love 
from  his  paternal  hand!" 

C  c 


202 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Controversy.  —  Freemasonry. — Universalism.  —  Temperance. —  Sermon  on  the 
Law  and  the  Gospel. — Official  Conduct. — Conversation. 

Probably  no  man  possessing  the  requisite  qualifications 
for  effecting  important  changes  in  human  conduct  and  opin- 
ions has  escaped  the  elements  of  commotion.  "I  came," 
said  the  Saviour,  "  not  to  send  peace  on  earth,  but  a  sword." 
Where  some  one  strong  quality  has  a  decided  preponder- 
ance in  the  character,  this  is  most  likely  to  be  the  case  ;  but, 
even  where  one  possesses  that  harmony  and  equipoise  of 
qualities  necessary  to  constitute  a  mediator — a  reconciler — 
he  will  not  always  escape  contention ;  on  the  contrary, 
standing  in  the  breach,  and  bidding  the  combatants  on  ei- 
ther side  to  sheath  their  swords,  he  encounters  danger  from 
both  parties.  Mr.  Fisk  was  an  illustration  of  these  remarks. 
Hitherto  we  have  contemplated  him  only  as  a  Christian 
minister,  distinguished  chiefly  by  superior  talents,  and  deep- 
er devotion  to  the  objects  of  his  sacred  calling.  Hereafter 
he  will  appear  more  as  a  controversialist ;  yet  controversy 
was  never  his  delight.  He  engaged  in  it  only  under  an  im- 
perative sense  of  duty,  and  then  with  great  reluctance.  It 
is  only  such  a  spirit  that  is  fit  for  controversy.  Such  a  one 
is  not  likely  to  engage  in  it  from  impure  aims.  A  thirst  for 
distinction  or  an  eagerness  for  conquest  will  not  needlessly 
prolong  it,  and  no  ebullition  of  temper  or  sophistical  devices 
mark  its  progress.  He  pursues  not  truth  at  the  expense  of 
charity ;  he  wars  not  in  the  cause  of  righteousness  with  car- 
nal weapons. 

In  the  years  1826  to  1829,  the  churches  of  New-England 
were  seriously  agitated  on  the  subject  of  Freemasonry. 
Prior  to  this,  many  serious  and  sensible  Christians  had  been 
somewhat  scandalized  by  their  clergy  attending  the  lodges. 
Yet  they  did  not  look  on  this  superfluous  remnant  of  a  dark 
and  troublous  age — an  institution  for  mutual  protection  and 
defence  inconsistent  with  social  and  political  equality — as 


FREEMASONRY. 


203 


being  at  variance  with  the  civil  compact,  and  the  mutual  and 
equal  obligations  between  man  and  man,  but  rather  as  a  piece 
of  puerility  and  folly.  A  very  different  view  was  taken  after 
the  tragedy  at  Batatavia,  when  the  people  saw  that  the 
obligations  of  the  fraternity  were  regarded  as  paramount  to 
those  of  law,  liberty,  and  religion.  The  excitement  then  be- 
came very  great,  not  only  in  our  own,  but  also  in  other  de- 
nominations. Many  would  not  hear  Masons  preach ;  they 
would  leave  the  house  if  one  even  went  into  the  pulpit  to 
close  the  service,  or  attempted  to  lead  in  prayer.  The  Ma- 
sons, on  the  other  hand,  had  their  supporters  ;  and  thus  many 
churches  were  most  painfully  rent  and  distracted.  In  this 
state  of  things,  many  eyes  were  turned  towards  Mr.  Fisk. 
His  well-known  moderation,  judgment,  and  decision,  joined 
to  his  superior  abilities,  presented  him  as  a  guiding  mind  to 
the  Church  in  this  emergency.  Various  letters  were  ac- 
cordingly addressed  to  him  by  influential  persons  in  the 
Church,  requesting  his  advice  and  friendly  offices.  From  a 
state  approaching  to  indifference  on  the  subject,  he  now  be- 
came decided  in  his  opposition  to  the  society ;  yet  he  never 
went  to  extremes.  He  distinguished  between  the  society 
and  individuals,  between  Freemasonry  and  Freemasons. 
But,  while  he  could  not  brand  every  individual  as  criminal, 
he  still  thought  it  due  to  the  sentiments  and  peace  of  the 
Church  that  every  member  of  the  lodge  should  give  satis- 
faction to  the  Church,  and  that  the  Church,  on  its  part, 
should  be  content  with  what  was  reasonable.  "With  these 
views,  he  drew  up  sundry  resolutions,  which,  by  the  aid  of 
his  friends,  he  succeeded  in  getting  through  the  Conference, 
at  its  session  in  1829.  The  first  of  these  resolutions  dis- 
claimed all  "  connexion  whatever  with  speculative  Freema- 
sonry," and  considered  "  any  member  who  should  disregard" 
it  as  "  offending  against  the  authority  of  the  Conference  ;" 
the  second  was  a  covenant  to  "  avoid  all  such  questions  and 
measures,  for  or  against  Masonry,  as  produce  excitement 
and  stir  up  strife  among  the  people  ;"  and  the  third  was  an 
exhortation  to  the  people  to  conduct  themselves  peacefully, 
and  to  receive  as  ministers  of  Christ  such  as  might  labour 
among  them  agreeably  to  these  mutual  promises.  After 


204 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


nearly  an  hour's  discussion,  the  resolutions  passed  by  a  very 
large  majority,  if  not  unanimously.  Nevertheless,  after  the 
Masonic  members  came  to  reflect,  some  thought  they  had 
conceded  too  much,  and  Mr.  Fisk  accordingly  received 
some  letters  complaining  of  dissatisfaction,  and  even  disgust, 
at  the  measure  ;  but  the  agitation  ultimately  subsided.  Ma- 
sonry had  already,  in  fact,  received  its  mortal  stroke,  and, 
after  a  few  expiring  throes  and  paroxysms,  the  subject  was 
buried  among  the  things  that  have  been. 

In  the  year  1827,  the  Rev.  T.  Merritt,  stationed  at  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts,  believed  the  interests  of  truth  required 
him  to  enter  on  a  public  examination  of  the  doctrines  of  Uni- 
versalism.  With  becoming  candour,  he  gave  notice  of  his 
intention  to  the  Universalist  minister,  Mr.  Paige.  The  issue 
was  a  public  discussion  between  them.  The  parties  agreed 
to  write  their  discourses,  and  the  notes  of  each  were  placed 
in  the  other's  hands  to  make  out  his  reply.  This  arrange- 
ment has  very  obvious  advantages  over  the  more  common 
method  of  giving  extemporaneous  harangues,  which  gives 
such  unfair  advantage  to  a  shrewd  flippancy  over  solid  rea- 
soning. It  was  understood  at  the  time  that  the  principal  of 
the  Wesleyan  Academy  would  probably  take  some  share  in 
the  controversy,  to  which,  we  believe,  no  objection  was 
made.  .  When,  therefore,  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Merritt 
was  concluded,  Mr.  Paige  was  informed  that  Mr.  Fisk  was 
about  to  deliver  one  or  two  lectures  on  the  subject  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  to  which,  if  he  saw  proper,  he  might  re- 
ply, but  that,  in  case  he  should,  his  opponent  would  probably 
follow  with  a  rejoinder.  This  offer  Mr.  Paige  saw  proper 
to  decline.  The  lectures,  however,  were  delivered,  and  are 
contained  in  Mr.  Merritt's  Universalist  Controversy.  There 
was  a  most  vehement  effort  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Paige  and 
his  abettors  on  this  occasion  to  injure  Mr.  Fisk's  character  : 
but  the  circumstances  are  not  worth  recording.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  that  they  proved  not  less  impotent  than  malicious. 
Their  darts  fell  harmless  at  his  feet,  or  recoiled  upon  the 
heads  of  his  assailants. 

The  year  1827  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Fisk's  embarking  in  the 
Temperance  enterprise,  which  ever  after  made  an  important 


TEMPERANCE  REFORMATION. 


205 


feature  in  his  history.    His  attention  had,  before  this  period, 
been  drawn  to  the  subject,  not  only  from  beholding  the  great 
prevalence  of  inebriety  in  the  land,  but  especially  from  ob- 
serving that  even  the  Wesleyan  societies  were  suffering  fear- 
ful ravages  from  this  fell  destroyer.    It  is  true,  the  testimony 
of  their  venerated  founder  was  clear  and  strong ;  it  is  also 
true,  though  the  point  has  been  contested,  that  in  the  first 
editions  of  the  Wesleyan  Discipline,  using,  making,  and  sell- 
ing ardent  spirits  were  expressly  prohibited.    But  such  was 
the  difficulty  of  carrying  this  rule  into  effect,  especially  in 
the  agricultural  districts  at  a  distance  from  market,  where 
the  inducement  to  convert  the  grain  and  fruit  into  liquor 
was  very  strong,  that  the  rule,  out  of  accommodation  to  pub- 
lic sentiment,  was  so  modified  as  only  to  forbid  "  drunken- 
ness, or  drinking  spirituous  liquors  unless  in  cases  of  neces- 
sity."   Thus  we  had  many  members  who  made  and  sold 
ardent  spirits,  and  many  more  who  gave  such  latitude  to  the 
condition  expressed  in  the  rule  as  to  drink  whenever  they 
chose.    The  consequence  was  the  generation  of  an  appetite 
for  them  among  many,  and  the  creation  of  habits  of  inebriety. 
Hence  there  were  more  instances  of  degradation  from  the 
ministry,  and  of  expulsions  from  the  Church,  from  this  than 
from  any  other  cause,  perhaps  than  all  others  put  together. 
These  things  Mr.  Fisk  saw,  and  they  deeply  affected  him. 
Even  in  his  own  neighbourhood,  in  his  circle  of  familiar 
friends,  a  member  of  the  Church,  a  trustee  of  the  academy, 
owned  a  distillery,  and  carried  on  an  extensive  business, 
using  the  article  so  freely  himself  as  to  create  serious  alarm 
among  his  friends.    Yet  there  was  no  remedy.    The  Church 
did  not  prohibit  the  manufacture  and  sale,  and  he  only  drank 
when  he  thought  it  necessary.    What  was  true  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  Vermont,  was  equally  true  in  other  sections, 
and  perhaps  more  extensively  so  in  the  Southern  and  West- 
ern States,  where  the  climate  was  then  thought  to  render  ar- 
tificial stimulants  indispensable. 

It  was,  therefore,  with  great  satisfaction  that  Mr.  Fisk  hail- 
ed the  formation  of  Temperance  Societies.    He  perceived 
that  the  light  in  which  they  presented  the  subject,  the  infor- 
mation they  would  diffuse,  the  energy  that  would  arise  from 
18 


206 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


combined  action,  and  especially  when  the  influence  of  the 
most  learned,  able,  and  respectable  men  of  all  parties  and 
opinions  could  be  enlisted  in  the  cause,  were  just  what  were 
wanted.  Wisely  auguring  the  most  beneficial  results  from 
the  enterprise,  he  did  not  fail  to  enter  into  it  with  all  his 
heart. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1827,  on  the  annual  fast-day,  dis- 
courses on  Temperance  were  delivered  in  the  churches  at 
Wilbraham  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  a  meeting 
of  the  students  of  the  academy  took  place,  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  society.  It  is  thus  mentioned  in  a  commu- 
nication of  Mr.  Fisk  to  the  editor  of  Zion's  Herald  : 

"  The  meeting  of  the  students  took  place  that  very  after- 
noon, and  it  proved  a  most  interesting  season.  A  num- 
ber of  young  men  spoke  on  the  subject  with  much  judgment 
and  feeling,  and  facts  were  adduced,  not  only  illustrative 
of  the  evils  of  intemperance,  but  also  showing  the  useless- 
ness  of  ardent  spirits  in  those  cases  where  men  have  thought 
they  could  not  do  without  them ;  and  also  showing  how  a 
temperate  use  of  ardent  spirits  in  families  frequently  led 
some  of  the  members  of  such  families  to  intemperance  and 
ruin.  "Where  all  was  interesting,  it  is  difficult  to  select ;  one 
or  two  facts,  however,  I  have  retained,  and  will  communi- 
cate. One  young  gentleman  stated  that  he  had  been  ac- 
quainted with  a  blacksmith  in  the  City  of  New- York,  who 
worked  upon  anchors  and  other  heavy  work,  and  thought  it 
necessary,  in  his  severe  labour,  exposed  to  so  much  heat,  to 
drink  ardent  spirits  daily.  He  was  converted,  and  made  a 
public  profession  of  religion  ;  but  still  thought,  like  all  the 
rest  of  the  community,  his  business  required  the  use  of  spir- 
its. He  found,  however,  that  at  night,  after  labour,  he  would 
be  heavy  and  dull,  and  unfit  for  devotion ;  he  supposed  it 
might  be  from  the  use  of  distilled  liquors  ;  he  therefore  left 
it  off  entirely,  and  found  not  only  that  he  could  perform  his 
work  as  well  or  better  than  before,  but  also  that  his  mind 
was  much  more  lively,  and  his  animal  spirits  more  vigorous, 
when  his  daily  task  was  done.  This,  it  is  believed,  would 
prove  true  in  all  cases. 


TEMPERANCE  REFORMATION. 


207 


"  Another  said  that  a  clergyman,  a  distant  connexion  of 
his  father's  family,  lived  till  he  was  a  hundred  years  old,  in 
the  daily  use  of  ardent  spirits ;  very  temperately,  however, 
measuring  to  himself  one  half  glass  daily :  he  also  used  to 
deal  it  out  temperately  to  his  family.  He  had  ten  sons,  all 
of  whom  became  intemperate,  and  their  children  after'  thern^ 
so  that,  it  was  now  thought,  there  were  forty  drunkards 
among  the  old  clergyman's  descendants,  all  evidently  made 
so  by  the  gentleman's  temperate  use  of  ardent  spirits  in  bis 
family.  How  many,  in  like  manner,  make  drunkards  in 
their  families,  unconsciously  and  undesignedly,  by  the  cus- 
tom of  using  spirits  among  their  children,  workmen,  and  vis- 
iters !  And  yet  the  same  practices  are  persisted  in,  as  if  such 
a  course  were  not  dangerous,  but  absolutely  essential  to  life. 
Till  sober  and  temperate  men  wake  up  to  a  sense  of  this  sub- 
ject, and  adopt  for  themselves  and  households  the  scriptural 
maxim,  i  Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not,'  we  never  can 
expect  a  reformation  in  society." 

"We  add  another  extract  from  the  same  communication. 
Marking  the  commencement  of  an  important  era  in  the  his- 
tory of  society,  it  cannot  fail  to  be  interesting. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  town,  in  which  the 
different  denominations  united,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  draught  a  constitution  for  a  society,  which  constitution  was 
reported  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  and  was  amply  discussed. 
A  number  were  prepared  to  sign  it,  but  others  hesitated  :  to 
resolve  not  to  use  ardent  spirits  themselves,  nor  permit  it  to 
be  used  in  their  families,  seemed  so  much  like  entering  into 
a  new  world,  and  adopting  new  modes  of  life,  that  they 
hardly  knew  what  to  say  or  do.  That  such  a  course  was 
necessary  seemed  to  be  very  generally  admitted,  but  how 
to  perform  they  knew  not.  However,  it  was  at  length  de- 
termined to  adjourn  the  meeting  until  the  fourth  of  July 
next,  and  a  committee  were  appointed  to  make  choice  of  one 
to  deliver  a  public  address  on  the  subject  at  that  time.  But, 
before  the  meeting  broke  up,  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted  almost  unanimously,  viz. : 


208 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  'Resolved,  That  we  will  practise  ourselves,  and  endeav- 
our to  have  practised  in  our  families,  the  spirit  of  the  consti- 
tution that  has  been  reported  to  this  meeting.' 

"  In  short,  the  subject  has  excited  much  attention  ;  and 
though  some  opposition  has  been  stirred  up,  yet  some  appa- 
rent good  has  been  effected.  Several  gentlemen  of  influence 
in  the  place  have  renounced  the  use  of  spirits  altogether,  and 
the  bottle  has  been  banished  from  a  number  of  families. 
The  importance  of  the  subject  is  much  thought  of  by  those 
who  before  thought  but  little  of  it ;  and,  possibly,  an  impres- 
sion has  been  made  on  some  minds  which  will  not  be  readi- 
ly effaced. 

"  Quere.  Would  it  not  be  well  for  ministers  to  preach  ex- 
pressly on  this  subject,  and  aim  their  arguments  not  so  much 
at  the  drunkard,  for  his  case  is  almost  hopeless,  as  to  the 
practices  of  temperate  men  ? 

"  W.  Fisk. 

"  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  April  19,  1827." 

But  Mr.  Fisk  did  not  enter  upon  this  undertaking  without 
much  opposition  and  some  obloquy.  It  arose,  too,  where  he 
had  not  anticipated  it,  and  therefore  he  felt  it  more  keenly, 
namely,  among  his  own  brethren.  Some  of  them  were  re- 
luctant to  enter  into  the  measure.  The  stand  taken  by  the 
eminent  founder  of  Methodism  on  the  subject  of  ardent  spir- 
its, the  high  ground  taken  by  the  Methodist  Church,  and  the 
prohibitory  rule  in  the  Discipline,  led  them  to  believe  that, 
however  necessary  temperance  societies  were  in  the  commu- 
nity at  large,  or  even  in  other  churches,  they  were  not  requi- 
red among  us.  They  claimed  to  be  a  temperance  society  al- 
ready. Some  things  also  occurred  at  the  commencement 
of  the  enterprise  rather  unfortunate.  One  was,  a  proposal 
by  the  National  Society  to  raise  a  permanent  fund  of  twenty 
thousand  dollars  for  the  support  of  a  special  agent.  To  this 
they  objected,  partly  because  they  were  always  opposed, 
somewhat  unreasonably,  perhaps,  to  special  agencies  for  reli- 
gious and  charitable  purposes,  believing  the  regular  minis- 
try the  best  agency,  and  partly  because  they  had  always 
seen  such  funds  in  the  hands  of  one  denomination  not  mark- 


OPPOSITION  TO  THE  TEMPERANCE  MEASURES.  209 

ed  by  great  liberality  towards  them,  whose  power  they  sup- 
posed it  would  augment.  Another  error  was  the  utterance 
of  unguarded  expressions,  which  sometimes  gave  offence  or 
awakened  distrust.  One  made  an  injudicious  comparison 
between  the  excellent  and  successful  agent  of  the  American 
Temperance  Society,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hewitt,  and  the 
Rev.  John  Wesley,  whom  the  Methodists  justly  delight  to 
honour.  The  assertion  was,  that  "but  for  temperance  socie- 
ties, the  voice  of  Hewitt  would  have  been  as  inoperative  as 
that  of  Rush  or  Wesley."  Another  asserted  that  the  tem- 
perance societies  were  composed  of  the  sober  men  of  all 
parties,  thereby  charging  all  with  intemperance  who  did  not 
join  them.  These,  it  is  true,  were  small  matters  ;  but  when 
the  mind  is  not  fully  convinced  of  the  propriety  or  necessity 
of  any  step,  small  objections  become  great  obstacles.  It 
shows,  moreover,  that  they  who  are  "  had  in  reputation  for 
wisdom,"  should  beware  of  the  "dead  flies"  which  spoil  the 
precious  ointment. 

Mr.Fisk  very  much  regretted  that  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal,  the  official  organ  of  the  General  Conference, 
took  a  decided  stand  against  him.  The  very  excellent  and 
able  editor  of  that  paper,  residing  in  the  City  of  New- York, 
was  less  conversant  with  the  state  of  the  Church  generally, 
in  regard  to  Temperance,  than  clergymen  residing  in  the 
country,  especially  in  the  agricultural  districts.  Hence, 
while  he  approved  of  the  enterprise  so  far  as  others  were 
concerned,  and  wrote  and  published  in  favour  of  the  general 
undertaking,  he  did  not  think  the  Methodists  called  upon  to 
take  any  part  in  it  by  joining  the  National  Society.  It  should 
be  known,  too,  that  the  Christian  Advocate,  even  at  that  early 
period,  had  not  less  than  fifteen  thousand  subscribers,  and 
perhaps  sixty  thousand  readers. 

Notwithstanding  the  opposition,  Mr.  Fisk  was  generally 
treated  with  great  respect  and  courtesy ;  yet  some  allowed 
their  prejudices  to  carry  them  beyond  the  bounds  of  charity. 
He  was  suspected  of  impure  motives,  aims  at  popularity, 
worldly  influence,  truckling  to  other  denominations,  and  the 
like ;  while  one  person,  who  had  no  little  influence  in  the 
Church,  said  "  he  had  allowed  the  Presbyterians  to  cast  a 
18*  Dd 


210 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


veil  over  his  eyes."  But  none  of  these  things  moved  him. 
Calmly  he  pursued  his  determined  way.  He  spoke,  wrote, 
and  travelled  in  behalf  of  the  cause,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
to  see  his  labours  crowned  with  success.  Many  were  con- 
vinced. He  had  the  farther  satisfaction  to  see  many  of  his 
private  friends  enter  into  his  views  ;  among  others,  the  trus- 
tee of  the  academy  already  alluded  to  became  a  convert  to 
the  new  opinions,  abandoned  his  distillery,  confessed  his  er- 
ror, and  came  forth  a  decided  supporter  of  the  Temperance 
measures. 

A  little  incident  exhibits  at  once  the  feeling  of  the  Church 
in  many  places,  and  our  subject's  firmness  and  independence 
where  duty  was  involved.  Going  by  invitation  to  deliver 
an  address  on  Temperance  at  a  certain  town  in  Connecticut, 
he  was  met  by  a  member  of  the  Church,  by  whom  he  was 
strongly  advised  to  alter  his  purpose.  The  reason  given 
was  that  the  Church  in  that  place  was  opposed  to  the  Tem- 
perance movement ;  some  were  engaged  in  the  trade  in  ar- 
dent spirits,  and  others  did  not  feel  any  necessity  for  agita- 
ting the  question.  In  short,  if  he  persisted,  it  would  create, 
it  was  alleged,  such  division  of  feeling  as  would  ruin  the 
Church.  "Sir,"  said  Dr.  Fisk,  "if  the  Church  stands  on 
rum,  let  it  go  /"  He  delivered  his  address  notwithstanding, 
but  without  any  such  disastrous  effects. 

Meantime  the  cause  was  gaining  constant  accessions  of 
strength,  even  among  the  Wesleyan  societies.  Several 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conferences  avowed  the  total  abstinence 
principle  publicly:  that  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in 
June,  1828,  Litchfield,  Genesee  Conference  in  September, 
and  Bedford,  in  Virginia,  and  that  of  Grove  Circuit,  Geor- 
gia, the  next  year.  In  the  autumn  of  1829,  at  a  camp- 
meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Somers,  Connecticut,  the 
preachers  consulted  together,  and  adopted  a  series  of  res- 
olutions in  favour  of  temperance  societies,  which  were  for- 
warded by  Dr.  Fisk,  accompanied  by  remarks  in  support 
of  them,  to  the  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate.  They  were 
inserted,  but  the  same  number  contained  a  long  editorial 
decidedly  maintaining  the  former  ground.  But,  to  compen- 
sate for  this,  Dr.  Fisk  soon  after  received  an  interesting  let- 


SUCCESS  OF  THE  TEMPERANCE  CAUSE. 


211 


ter  from  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  from  several  class-lead- 
ers, strongly  commending  the  course  he  had  taken,  disap- 
proving of  the  views  held  out  in  the  Advocate,  and  urging 
him  to  perseverance.  This,  no  doubt,  was  greatly  refreshing 
to  his  spirit,  and  the  more  so,  since  it  came  from  so  great  a 
distance,  and  where  he  was  personally  unknown. 

Facts  were  now  multiplying  with  astonishing  rapidity, 
demonstrating  the  utility  of  the  undertaking.  In  January, 
1830,  the  third  anniversary  of  the  American  Temperance 
Society  was  held  in  New-York  City.  From  the  managers' 
report  it  appeared,  that  during  the  year  the  number  of  State 
societies  had  increased  from  four  to  eleven,  and  three  more 
were  about  to  be  formed,  while  the  whole  number  of  local 
societies  was  1015,  numbering  not  less  than  100,000  names. 
More  than  700  reformed  inebriates  were  reported  during 
the  year ;  fifty  distilleries  were  discontinued  ;  and  in  one 
case,  when  the  property  of  a  bankrupt  distiller  was  offered 
at  public  sale,  not  a  single  bid  for  it  could  be  obtained.  A 
decrease  of  sales  was  reported  from  some  towns  in  almost 
every  state,  varying  in  amount  from  one  fourth  to  nine  tenths 
of  the  whole,  and  in  some  places  the  trade  was  totally  aban- 
doned. More  than  400  had  relinquished  the  trade  from 
conviction.  A  single  town  in  Vermont  had  saved  by  tem- 
perance in  one  year  $8400,  and  the  State  of  New-Hampshire 
was  reported  to  have  saved  $100,000  thereby.*  These 
facts,  not  easily  repelled  or  answered,  greatly  encouraged 
Dr.  Fisk  and  the  friends  of  the  cause  to  continue  their  ex- 
ertions. 

As  the  New- York  Conference  has  the  supervision  of  the 
Book  Room,  and,  consequently,  the  official  periodicals  of 
the  Church,  Dr.  Fisk  was  extremely  desirous  of  gaining  its 
influence  on  the  right  side.  With  this  view,  he  attended 
the  Conference  in  May  of  this  year,  intending  to  present  a 
memorial  on  the  subject ;  but  the  necessity  for  this  was  hap- 
pily superseded.    The  Conference  appointed  a  committee 

*  Not  the  smallest  testimony  to  the  progress  of  the  Temperance  reformation 
was  the  reply  of  the  agent  of  a  French  importing-house,  when  applied  to  for  a 
freight  of  brandy  to  this  country.  "  No,  no,"  said  the  man  of  observation,  "  de 
devil  is  getting  out  of  de  'Mexicans  :  dey  drink  no  more  brandies." 


212 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUIt  FISK. 


to  take  the  cause  of  Temperance  into  consideration,  with 
Dr.  Bangs  for  its  chairman.  Their  report  was  satisfactory 
to  the  friends  of  Temperance.  It  commenced  with  noticing 
the  importance  of  the  cause  ;  explained  the  views  of  the 
Church  up  to  this  period  on  the  subject,  assigning  the  rea- 
sons why  it  had  not  united  with  the  National  Society  ;  enu- 
merated some  of  the  benefits  which  had  already  resulted 
from  the  enterprise  ;  and  finally  recommended  the  formation 
of  Temperance  Societies  in  all  our  congregations.  The  re- 
port was  adopted,  and  published  in  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal.  The  New-England  Conference  adopted  a  yet 
stronger  report ;  other  Conferences  followed  their  example, 
and  the  cause  gradually  extended  until  it  pervaded  nearly 
the  whole  Church.  At  first  it  was  only  intended  to  oper- 
ate in  the  Church  ;  but  it  was  soon  seen  that,  though  this 
would  purify  its  skirts  from  the  pollution,  yet  it  would  not 
exert  so  extensive  an  influence  as  uniting  in  the  general 
cause.  Sectarian  feelings  gradually  yielded  to  a  spirit  of 
more  enlarged  philanthropy,  and  the  whole  Church  united 
in  the  great  national  enterprise.  Dr.  Bangs,  with  charac- 
teristic frankness  and  candour,  changed  the  course  of  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  and  made  it  one  of  the 
most  efficient  aids  in  the  country  to  the  noble  enterprise,  to 
which  it  has  ever  since  given  a  decided  support. 

At  the  session  of  the  New-England  Conference  in  1829, 
Mr.  Fisk  preached  from  Rom.,  viii.,  2,  3,  4,  a  sermon  on  the 
distinctive  properties  of  the  Law  and  the  Gospel.  This  dis- 
course was  admirably  timed  and  ably  executed.  It  gave  a 
clear  exhibition  of  a  subject  lying  at  the  basis  of  the  evan- 
gelical theory.  On  three  accounts  it  was  particularly  ac- 
ceptable to  the  auditory,  especially  to  the  members  of  the 
Conference.  It  served  to  settle  the  minds  of  many  who 
were  involved  in  no  little  confusion  on  the  subject ;  it  threw 
additional  light  on  the  errors  of  Mr.  Randall,  and  dispersed 
the  remnants  of  the  fog  he  had  created  ;  and  it  exposed  the 
inconsistencies  of  Unitarianism.  A  system  that  rejects  a  vi- 
carious sacrifice  is  utterly  at  variance  with  the  relations  ex- 
hibited in  the  sermon  as  existing  between  the  Law  and  the 
GospeL 


SERMON  ON  THE  LAW  AND  THE  GOSPEL.  213 

The  Conference,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  requested  the  pub- 
lication of  this  discourse.  To  this  the  author  at  first  ob- 
jected, fearing  some  of  his  positions  would  be  assailed,  and 
involve  him  in  controversy.  At  length  he  yielded,  and  his 
anticipations,  to  some  extent,  were  realized.  One  point  was 
disputed  by  many,  both  of  our  own  and  other  denomina- 
tions :  "  It  is,"  says  the  sermon,  "  this  Gospel  grace  that 
constitutes  man  a  free  moral  agent,  and  restores  to  him  the 
power  of  choice  which  he  lost  through  sin."  But  there  was 
a  great  want  of  logical  precision  in  the  statement  of  the  ob- 
jection. The  preacher  did  not  assert  that  the  Gospel  con- 
stitutes man  a  moral  agent,  for  on  this  there  would  have  been 
no  disagreement :  but  he  asserted  that  he  was  hereby  "  con- 
stituted a  free  moral  agent."  The  proper  inquiry,  there- 
fore, should  have  been  on  the  force  of  the  epithet  "free"  as 
qualifying  "  moral  agent."  Now  it  evidently  implies  that 
some  moral  agents  are  not  free,  otherwise  the  word  means 
nothing — is  a  mere  expletive.  This  being  so,  the  sermon 
does  not  deny,  it  rather  asserts,  that  fiends  and  lost  spirits 
are  moral  agents,  i.  e.,  beings  capable  of  moral  action,  and 
therefore  punishable,  notwithstanding  they  can  will  only  one 
way,  and  therefore  are  not  free.  They  are  held  under  chains 
of  darkness  and  sin  ;  are  under  an  everlasting  necessity  of 
sinning,  superinduced  by  their  wilful  conduct :  they  are,  there- 
fore, according  to  the  sermon,  not  "  free  moral  agents." 
They  could  become  such  only  by  having  the  power  to  choose 
good  restored  to  them,  i.  e.,  being  replaced  in  a  state  of  pro- 
bation ;  and  in  this  sense  our  author  contends  that  "  Gospel 
grace  constitutes  man  a  free  moral  agent,  and  restores  to 
him  the  power  of  choice  (of  choosing  good)  which  he  lost 
through  sin." 

It  was  painful  to  Mr.  Fisk  that  this  sermon  gave  dissatisfac- 
tion to  some  of  his  intimate  associates  in  the  ministry.  One 
of  these  wrote  an  article  in  the  New-England  Herald,  setting 
forth  his  objection.  It  may  be  briefly  stated  thus:  the  ser- 
mon denies  to  the  Gospel  the  nature  of  Law,  whereas  the 
Gospel  contains  a  rule  of  life.  This  article  was  ably  an- 
swered by,  as  is  understood,  the  Rev.  T.  Merritt.  The  ob- 
jection arises  from  not  distinguishing  between  the  essential 


214 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


character  of  the  Gospel  as  a  remedial  provision,  and  what 
is  contained  in  the  evangelical  system  of  faith  and  practice. 
The  sermon  does  not  deny  that  the  obligation  of  the  Moral 
Law  is  recognised  in  the  Gospel ;  but  this  very  expression 
implies  that  the  Law  and  Gospel  are  in  their  nature  distinct. 
The  container  and  the  thing  contained  are  not  identical. 

As  we  are  now  drawing  towards  the  close  of  Dr.  Fisk's 
connexion  with  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  we  shall  add  a  few 
additional  particulars  illustrative  of  his  demeanour  in  the  sta- 
tion he  occupied. 

His  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  school  was  as  unremit- 
ting as  his  sense  of  responsibility  was  profound.  He  left  no 
expedient  untried  to  improve  the  minds  and  morals  of  his 
charge.  Learning  that,  in  some  houses  where  the  scholars 
boarded,  the  rules  of  the  school  were  held  almost  in  abey- 
ance, he  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  keepers  of  the 
boarding-houses,  explaining  and  enforcing  the  regulations 
of  the  school,  and  requiring  them  either  to  see  them  observ- 
ed or  to  dismiss  their  boarders. 

The  subjoined  letter  will  show  the  feelings  with  which  he 
regarded  a  nuisance  far  too  common  at  the  seats  of  literary 
institutions. 

"  Wilbraham,  April  2,  1830. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  received  a  bill  this  morning  against  which  gave 

me  much  pain.  It  would  be  incredible  to  me,  if  matter  of 
fact  did  not  confirm  it  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  that 
respectable  men  in  this  town  should  encourage  our  scholars 
to  run  up  such  bills  as  this.  If  they  wish  to  ruin  the  repu- 
tation of  the  school,  and  thereby  drive  all  scholars  from  it, 
this  is  the  way  to  do  it.  Notwithstanding  all  I  have  said  to 
you,  sir,  and  to  other  gentlemen  on  this  subject,  the  same 
course  is  pursued  quarter  after  quarter  ;  and  that  it  is  pursu- 
ed very  extensively  at  your  store,  and  others  are  lamen- 
table examples.  They  have  been  called  home  for  their  prof- 
ligacy ;  injured  in  their  habits  and  morals  (if  not  ruined) ;  and 
carrying  with  them,  and  carrying  in  their  own  corrupted  ex- 
amples and  characters,  blasting  testimonies  against  the  repu- 


LETTER  OF  REBUKE. 


215 


tation  of  the  institution.  However  little,  sir,  you  and  the 
good  people  of  this  place  realize  it,  a  few  more  such  sea- 
sons as  the  last  will  ruin  the  school.  I  have  published  to 
the  world,  and  proclaimed  it  upon  the  house-tops,  that  we  had 
a  moral  and  religious  school ;  that  there  was  little  or  no  op- 
portunity for  the  scholars  to  get  corrupted.  But,  sir,  how  can 
I  hold  up  my  head,  and  face  the  fathers  of  those  sons  who 
came  here  moral  and  virtuous,  but  have  been  permitted,  at 
the  stores  and  taverns,  by  men  who  profess  to  be  friends  to 
the  institution,  and  some  of  them  friends  to  Christ,  to  run  up 
bills  for  sweetmeats,  wine,  oyster-suppers,  sundries  (rum,  I 
suppose),  to  the  amount  of  from  $5  to  $100  ?  And  these 
very  men,  too,  have  been  requested  not  to  trust  such  boys 
even  for  the  necessaries  of  life  without  an  order.  Sir,  I  am 
ashamed  and  confounded  before  the  public  !  I  am  disap- 
pointed in  gentlemen  who  take  this  course  !  Sir,  I  never 
shall  pay  such  bills,  and  the  parents  will  never  pay  them  if 
I  can  hinder  it.  If  a  love  of  present  gain  will  lead  men  to 
suffer  such  bills  on  their  books,  they  may  at  least  be  re- 
strained when  they  find  those  bills  are  uncollectable.  I 
know,  however,  this  will  not  wholly  meet  the  evil.  Men 
may,  if  they  choose,  take  a  course  to  induce  scholars  to  sell 
their  books  and  clothes,  as  some  have  done,  to  meet  these 
debts  of  honour,  as  they  are  taught  to  consider  them.  But 
let  me  ask  you,  sir,  as  a  Christian,  is  this  religion  ?  Is  this 
doing  as  in  similar  circumstances  we  would  have  others  do 
by  our  children  ?  Is  it  befriending  the  institution  ?  Permit 
me,  dear  sir,  to  deal  plainly.  I  am  not  angry,  but  I  am  af- 
flicted and  pained.  I  did  expect  a  different  course  from  you, 
at  least. 

"  What  you  mean  by  sundries  I  cannot  tell ;  I  say  per- 
haps it  is  ardent  spirits,  for  I  have  been  informed  you  have 
said  you  would  sell  the  scholars  rum.  Is  this  true  ?  I  have 
also  been  informed  that  some  of  our  scholars  would  be  in 
your  store  carrying  on  until  ten  o'clock,  or  perhaps  eleven 
o'clock  at  night.  Is  this  true  ?  Sir,  any  explanation  you 
can  give  me  I  shall  be  pleased  to  receive.  I  have  written 
my  feelings  frankly.  If  I  know  my  heart,  I  have  no  other 
motive  but  the  good  of  the  institution  ;  and  in  this  I  did  sup- 


216 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


pose  that  the  citizens  here  had  a  common  interest.  But  if 
they  have  no  greater  interest  than  to  indulge  our  scholars  to 
the  injury  of  their  morals  and  the  offence  of  their  parents 
for  the  sake  of  a  little  paltry  pelf,  the  sooner  we  know  this 
the  better.  Yours  in  sincerity, 

"  W.  Fisk. 

"P.S. — Do  not  think,  sir,  I  blame  you  only  in  this  thing : 
others  have  done  the  same  ;  it  has  become  a  crying  evil 
against  the  institution." 

An  extract  from  a  letter  written  to  Mrs.  Fisk  since  the 
death  of  her  husband,  by  a  lady  who  for  some  time  was 
principal  of  the  female  department  at  Wilbraham,  will  show 
the  estimation  in  which  Dr.  Fisk  was  held  by  those  associ- 
ated with  him  in  the  duties  of  every-day  life  : 

"  Those  who  have  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his  society  in 
the  private  circle,  and  have  seen  all  those  lights  and  shades 
which  so  sweetly  diversified  his  character  unfolded  in  all 
their  loveliest  hues,  peculiar  to  himself  as  a  companion  and 
friend,  feel  still  more  deeply  his  irreparable  loss.  Among 
these  I  have  been  peculiarly  favoured  by  a  kind  Providence, 
which,  by  a  train  of  circumstances,  associated  me  with  him 
as  governess  in  the  institution  at  Wilbraham,  where  he  pre- 
sided as  principal,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  its  fame  and 
usefulness.  I  witnessed  the  care,  anxiety,  and  deep  solici- 
tude which  daily  marked  his  steps.  Often  did  he  exclaim, 
*  I  rise  or  fall  with  this  institution  being,  from  the  humble 
opinion  he  had  of  his  own  abilities  and  wisdom  in  planning 
its  operations,  doubtful  of  its  ultimate  success.  He  bore  all 
our  burdens,  and  was  consulted  on  every  occasion.  All 
matters  were  referred  to  him,  moral,  intellectual,  or  physical. 
No  circumstance,  however  trifling  it  might  appear,  if  con- 
nected with  the  interests  of  the  institution,  was  beneath  his 
notice.  He  would  take  a  little  boy  who  had  transgressed 
the  rules  into  a  room  by  himself,  and  reason  with  him  upon 
his  conduct  until  he  had  melted  him  into  tears  of  repent- 

rjj^jQg  ■%  ■¥> 

During  this,  as,  indeed,  every  period  of  Dr.  Fisk's  life,  his 
conversation  was  marked  by  piety.    Not  that  he  was  in  the 


CHRISTIAN  OBSERVATIONS. 


217 


habit  of  delivering  formal  lectures  in  the  social  circle,  nor  did 
he  ever  practise  to  any  extent  the  monologue.  His  conver- 
sation was  always  easy,  familiar,  and  natural.  The  heaven- 
ward tendency  of  his  spirit  was  observable  in  the  views 
which  he  took  of  things,  in  his  occasional  remarks,  and  the 
readiness  with  which  he  would  suggest  topics  of  piety,  or  fall 
in  with  religious  trains  of  thought  suggested  by  others.  On 
such  occasions  he  often  uttered  sentiments  replete  with  Chris- 
tian edification.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  of  his  ob- 
servations have  not  been  retained.  We  insert  the  following, 
not  as  the  best  specimens,  but  the  only  ones  made  at  this  pe- 
riod of  his  life  which  we  have  received. 

Christian  Watchfulness. — "  I  was  once  conversing  with  a 
pious  female  of  the  Friends'  Society.  She  said  that  it  ap- 
peared to  her  that  Christians  did  not  rightly  understand  the 
nature  of  Christian  watchfulness.  We  are  not  to  watch  our 
feelings  or  the  world,  sinners,  Satan,  or  temptations,  but  we 
are  to  watch  Christ."  "  Looking  unto  Jesus"  is  a  precept 
of  Divine  authority. 

Make  a  Christ  of  nothing  but  Christ. — "  At  a  certain  pe- 
riod in  my  experience,  I  was  very  much  troubled  in  my  mind 
respecting  my  feelings.  I  unbosomed  my  heart  to  the  Rev. 
T.  Merritt,  who  knows,  I  think,  as  much  about  the  way  of 
faith  as  any  man  I  ever  saw,  and  told  him  all  my  obstacles. 
*  I  think,'  he  replied,  '  that  you  make  a  Christ  of  your  feel- 
ings. You  do  not  expect  that  Christ  will  bless  you  unless 
you  have  a  peculiar  kind  of  feelings.  But  Christ  does  not 
bless  because  you  have  peculiar  feelings,  but  because  you 
believe  in  him.  Make  a  Christ  of  nothing  but  Christ.'  " 
19  E  e 


218 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Wesleyan  University. — Dr.  Fisk  elected  President. — Letters. — Sermon  on  Pre- 
destination and  Election. — Inaugural  Address. — Occupations. — Letters. 

The  cause  of  education  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  now  rapidly  advancing.  This,  however,  was  not  ow- 
ing so  much  to  any  essential  change  of  views,  as  many  have 
supposed,  as  to  a  change  of  circumstances.  The  Meth- 
odists had  become  the  most  numerous  body  of  Christians 
in  the  United  States,  and  had  greatly  increased  both  in 
wealth  and  intelligence.  As  they  became  able  to  educate 
their  children,  they  found  the  importance  of  having  insti- 
tutions of  learning  under  their  own  control.  Prior  to  this 
they  had  been  satisfied  to  send  their  children  to  colleges 
under  the  influence  of  other  denominations,  and,  as  a  natu- 
ral consequence,  many  became  alienated  from  the  views  of 
their  parents.  Besides,  most  of  the  colleges  in  the  coun- 
try were  under  the  direction  of  some  one  denomination,  and 
this  secured  to  those  churches  who  had  most  influence  in  this 
line,  a  control  over  public  sentiment  that  was  hardly  com- 
patible with  the  equal  rights  of  the  several  churches.  Ine- 
quality of  condition  often  leads  to  an  invasion  of  the  equality 
of  rights.  Moreover,  while  we  had  no  such  institutions  among 
ourselves,  the  importance  of  education  was  not  likely  to  be 
so  generally  felt  as  it  ought  to  be  ;  while  the  possession  of 
them  would  cause  the  subject  to  be  brought  frequently  be- 
fore the  congregations,  and  the  spirit  of  the  enterprise  would 
become  more  universally  diffused.  The  result  has  fully  equal- 
led the  expectations  of  the  Church.  Education  is  now  ap- 
preciated, not  only  by  those  among  us  already  educated,  but 
is  sought  for  with  eagerness  by  those  who  had  no  early  ad- 
vantages. The  progress  of  opinion  necessary  to  effect  any 
great  enterprise  is  generally  slow ;  but,  nevertheless,  it  was 
steadily  deepening  and  extending  as  Providence  continued 
to  indicate  the  path  of  duty. 


EDUCATION  IN  THE   M.  E.  CHURCH. 


219 


We  have  seen  that  several  public  academies  had  already- 
risen  into  being.  These  served  to  cherish  the  awakened  de- 
sire for  knowledge.  Besides  these,  two  colleges,  as  we  have 
also  seen,  were  established  by  our  people  in  the  Western 
country,  namely,  Augusta  College  in  Kentucky,  chartered 
in  1822,*  and  Madison  College  at  Union  Town,  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  chartered  in  1827.*  From  these, 
as  well  as  from  our  more  intelligent  ministers  and  laymen, 
many  articles  on  education  had  appeared  in  our  leading  pa- 
pers, the  effect  of  which  was  to  awaken  the  attention  of 
many  to  the  subject.  It  was  also  favourable  to  this  project 
that  the  agitating  questions  of  ecclesiastical  polity  were  now 
settled ;  and  the  Church,  being  prosperous  within  as  well  as 
without,  had  leisure  to  turn  her  attention  to  her  own  improve- 
ment in  solid,  intelligent,  and  influential  piety. 

In  the  above  remarks  I  have  said  nothing  of  the  unfortu- 
nate Cokesbury  College  at  Abingdon,  or  the  Washington 
College  in  Baltimore  ;  because,  though  the  example  of  our 
fathers  was  a  strong  expression  of  their  sense  of  the  value 
of  education,  yet  the  calamities  of  those  institutions  more 
than  neutralized  the  force  of  that  example,  and,  indeed,  farm- 
ed a  strong  obstacle  to  future  efforts  in  the  cause.  The  spir- 
it, however,  was  now  fairly  up,  and  it  would  work  its  way. 

In  the  year  1829,  the  New- York  Annual  Conference  made 
its  first  movement  towards  the  establishment  of  a  college. 
The  circumstances  which  immediately  gave  rise  to  this  move- 
ment are  not  unworthy  of  notice.  It  happened  at  this  time  that 
the  buildings  erected  for  the  Literary,  Scientific,  and  Military 
Academy,  under  Captain  Partridge,  at  Middletown,  Connec- 
ticut, had  become  vacant.  On  a  certain  day,  some  of  the  trus- 
tees of  these  buildings  being  together,  one  of  them  expressed 
no  little  surprise  at  the  energy  and  liberality  exhibited  by  the 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Middletown,  in  the 
recent  erection  of  a  large  and  very  commodious  place  of 
worship  ;  hinting  that  he  should  not  be  surprised  if,  before 
long,  they  should  think  of  establishing  a  college.  To  carry 
on  the  idea,  another  sportively  added  that  they  had  build- 
ings to  dispose  of,  which  might  be  had  for  five  thousand  dol- 
*  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 


220 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


lars.  Upon  what  trivial  things  do  important  events  often 
turn  !  This  remark,  made  merely  in  badinage,  was  report- 
ed to  the  venerable  Laban  Clark,  presiding  elder  of  the 
New-Haven  district,  then  in  Middletown,  who  promptly  sent 
word  that  he  would  accept  the  offer,  and  be  responsible  for 
the  money.  This  led  to  the  serious  consideration  of  an  ar- 
rangement, the  result  of  which  was,  that  at  the  ensuing  ses- 
sion of  the  New- York  Conference,  the  subject  was  submit- 
ted, with  proposals  in  due  form,  from  the  trustees  of  the  acad- 
emy. The  establishment  of  a  college  having  been  in  con- 
templation for  some  time  before  among  some  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  body,  they  were  readily  induced  to  appoint 
a  committee  for  the  prosecution  of  the  business.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  the  Reverend  Drs.  Emory  and  Luckey, 
and  the  Reverend  Heman  Bangs.  The  New-England  Con- 
ference* being  invited  to  unite  in  the  project,  appointed  the 
Reverend  Messrs.  T.  Merritt,  S.  Martindale,  and  Dr.  Fisk, 
to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  New- York  committee. 

The  first  act  of  the  joint  committee  was  to  issue  proposals, 
inviting  the  several  towns  within  a  specified  region  to  com- 
pete for  the  location  of  the  college  by  the  offer  of  subscrip- 
tions. Troy,  in  New- York,  and  Bridgeport,  in  Connecticut, 
both  made  liberal  proposals  ;  but  those  from  Middletown 
were  now  so  modified  as  to  leave  no  room  for  hesitancy  as 
to  which  should  be  preferred.  The  trustees  of  the  academy, 
with  the  consent  of  the  stockholders,  offered  the  entire  prop- 
erty, valued  at  about  thirty  thousand  dollars,  to  the  Conferen- 
ces in  fee  simple,  with  the  single  condition  that  it  should  be 
sustained  as  a  college  or  university,  besides  giving  an  addi- 
tional local  subscription  of  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  In 
this  way  fifteen  acres  of  land,  large,  commodious,  and  sub- 
stantial buildings,  with  fixtures,  and  the  nucleus  of  a  library, 
were  placed  at  once  in  their  hands.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee in  favour  of  Middletown  was  adopted  at  the  next  ses- 
sions of  the  Conferences,  and  the  name  of  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity agreed  on.  Permanent  trustees  for  the  management 
of  the  financial  department  were  chosen  ;  and,  in  order  to 

*  A  similar  project  had  been  talked  of,  I  understand,  but  not  acted  on,  in  this 
Conference. 


WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY.  DR.  FISK  CHOSEN  PRESIDENT.  221 

secure  the  influence  of  the  Conferences,  visiters,  not  exceed- 
ing the  whole  number  of  trustees,  were  to  be  appointed  an- 
nually by  the  Conferences  patronising  the  institution.  New- 
Hampshire  and  Vermont  Conference  came  immediately  into 
the  measure,  and  that  of  Troy  and  others  united  in  it  after- 
ward. A  charter  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  of  Connec- 
ticut in  1831,  ratifying  this  arrangement,  with  an  additional 
provision  for  placing  the  institution,  should  it  become  desi- 
rable, under  the  direction  of  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  charter  secures  all  the 
rights  and  immunities  of  a  University. 

It  would  scarcely  be  proper,  in  this  place,  to  go  any  farther 
into  detail  upon  this  subject.  "We  cannot,  however,  forbear 
saying,  that  it  appears,  from  Dr.  Fisk's  papers,  that  two  con- 
siderations, in  addition  to  what  we  have  already  named, 
made  him  enter  with  great  alacrity  into  the  enterprise :  one 
of  these  was  a  desire  that  in  the  contemplated  institution 
some  arrangement  might  be  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  sons 
of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  few  of  whom,  on  account  of 
the  expense,  could  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. The  other  was  the  necessity  of  some  more  efficient 
measures  for  the  education  of  young  men  who  might  be  call- 
ed to  the  work  of  foreign  missions ;  for  it  was  evident  that 
the  regulations  of  the  Church  for  the  improvement  of  the  do- 
mestic ministry  must  be  very  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the 
foreign  work.  We  shall  see  in  the  sequel  how  this  latter 
object  was  provided  for.  To  accomplish  the  former,  pro- 
vision was  made,  by  which  the  payment  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars by  any  clergyman  should  secure  the  right  of  keeping  a 
son,  or  the  son  of  any  clergyman,  at  the  institution,  free  of 
charge  for  tuition,  during  the  life  of  the  subscriber  or  the 
minority  of  his  sons. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  1830,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Joint  Board  of  Trustees  and  Visiters,  Dr.  Fisk  was  elected 
President  of  the  Wesleyan  University.  At  first,  for  various 
reasons,  he  hesitated  about  accepting  the  appointment,  and 
was  on  the  point  of  declining  ;  but  convinced  at  length  that 
to  accept  it  was  his  duty,  he  sent  the  following  reply  to  the 
official  notice  of  his  election. 
19* 


222 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  To  the  Joint  Board  of  Trustees  and  Visiters  of  the  Wesley  an 
University,  now  in  Session  in  Middletown,  Conn. 
M  Gentlemen, 

"  With  a  high  sense  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  me  by  a 
majority  of  your  Board,  in  electing  me  president  of  your  pro- 
posed University,  I  tender  you  my  sincere  and  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments. I  have  a  deep  conviction  of  my  own  ina- 
bility to  perform  the  important  and  responsible  duties  con- 
nected with  this  appointment.  In  accordance,  however,  with 
the  judgment  of  my  friends,  and  in  reliance  upon  the  cordial 
and  united  aid  of  the  Board,  and  of  the  colleagues  which 
have  been  or  may  be  appointed,  and  especially  in  an  hum- 
ble reliance  upon  Almighty  God,  without  whose  assistance 
the  most  gifted  labour  in  vain,  I  will  engage  to  the  extent 
of  my  ability  in  the  service  of  the  Board,  in  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  assigned  me,  so  soon  as  I  can,  in  honour  and  jus- 
tice, disengage  myself  from  my  present  relation  to  another 
institution.  W.  Fisk." 

Arrangements  were  made  at  this  meeting  of  the  official 
board  to  organize  a  preparatory  school,  which  was  to  com- 
mence in  October  ensuing,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Will- 
iam C.  Larrabee,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  Maine. 
Dr.  Fisk,  meanwhile,  was  to  remain  at  Wilbraham  until  the 
following  December. 

We  introduce  some  passages  from  his  private  correspond- 
ence belonging  to  this  part  of  our  subject's  life.  The  first 
is  a  letter  to  his  cousin,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Brayton,  a  member 
of  the  Genesee  Conference. 

"  Wilbraham,  Feb.  23,  1829. 
"  Dear  Brother  in  Christ  and  Kinsman  in  the  Flesh  : 

"  When  I  received  your  esteemed  favour  of  July  last,  I 
thought  I  should  have  written  to  you  long  before  this  time ; 
but  business,  hurrying,  pressing  business,  has  prevented,  and 
would  now  prevent,  did  I  not  crowd  its  claims  aside  to  at- 
tend for  a  few  moments  to  the  pleasanter  claims  of  friend- 
ship. My  life  is  much  unlike  what  it  once  was.  Once  I 
had  leisure,  and  spent  much  time  in  cultivating  the  friend- 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


223 


ships  of  life ;  but  now  I  have  become  almost  a  man  of  busi- 
ness. It  is  true,  I  generally  preach  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
some  week-lectures ;  but  my  preaching  seems  frequently  to 
myself  like  the  running  of  a  rusty  saw.  I  never  coveted  this 
situation :  to  give  myself  wholly  to  the  ministry  was  always 
more  pleasant  to  me  ;  but  Providence  has  thrown  me  here, 
and  here,  for  the  present,  it  seems  to  be  duty  to  stay.  Some- 
body must  take  care  of  our  literary  institutions,  or  we  shall 
have  none  ;  and  whoever  does  it  will  find  it  no  easy  task, 
especially  if  he  has  to  be  teacher,  beggar,  builder,  treas- 
urer, secretary,  steward,  bookkeeper,  proctor,  preacher, 
&c,  &c,  all  himself;  and  perhaps  I  may  as  well  be  that 
man,  so  far  as  my  abilities  will  permit,  as  any  other.  I  know 
not,  with  all  my  exertions  and  the  exertions  of  my  fellow- 
labourers  in  this  good  work,  that  we  shall  make  our  institu- 
tion flourish.  We  well  know  that,  except  the  Lord  build 
the  city,  they  labour  in  vain  who  build  it ;  but  hitherto  the 
Lord  hath  helped  us.  Our  plans  have  succeeded,  and  our 
exertions  have  been  prospered  beyond  our  expectations. 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  fail  to  write  to  me.  Let  my  delay 
have  no  influence  to  retard  your  next  letter.  As  for  any 
difference  between  us,  in  rising  high  or  looking  high  as  to 
worldly  eminence,*  I  hope  you  will  neither  name  nor  think 
of  that,  unless  you  think  me  ambitious  of  eminence,  and  if 
you  do,  chide  and  reprove  me  as  such  feelings  deserve. 
If  my  heart  ever  aspire  to  greatness,  it  is  contrary  to  my 
better  teaching.  By  a  deep  view  of  my  own  heart,  God  has 
shown  me,  several  years  since,  what  a  helpless,  worthless 
thing  I  am.  What  have  I  that  I  have  not  received  ?  And 
so  negligent  have  I  been,  I  have  received  but  little,  and  on 
that  little  I  have  improved  less  ;  and  these  are  not  the  ef- 
fusions of  a  voluntary  humility,  they  are  the  strong  and  con- 
stant convictions  of  my  inmost  soul.   May  God  forgive  me." 

To  the  same. 

"  Wilbraham,  Nov.  1,  1829. 
"  When  your  esteemed  favour  arrived  in  Wilbraham,  I 
was  absent  on  a  long  and  pleasant  journey,  first  to  Boston, 

*  This  refers  to  some  expressions  in  one  of  his  correspondent's  letters. 


224 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


next  to  Portsmouth  to  attend  our  Conference,  and  then 
through  the  easterly  part  of  New-Hampshire,  and  through 
the  sublime  pass  of  the  White  Hills  up  to  my  native  state 
and  my  paternal  cottage.  This  was  a  relaxation  that  my 
debilitated  system  required,  after  incessant  labour  and  in- 
tense application  in  my  professional  duties  ;  and  especially 
was  it  necessary  for  Mrs.  Fisk,  who  had  for  some  time  been 
in  a  feeble  state  of  health.  We  enjoyed  a  pleasant  visit  at 
our  father's,  took  our  friends  in  Brattleborough  on  our  route 
home,  and  finally  arrived  home  past  the  middle  of  July. 
Since  my  return  I  have  kept  your  letter  safe  in  my  apart- 
ment of  unanswered  letters.  Full  many  a  time  have  I  shuf- 
fled over  the  packet  to  see  which  must  be  answered,  and 
yours  has  always  come  tip,  and  had  its  claims  acknowledged 
and  postponed,  under  the  influence  of  that  cruel  maxim  to 
which  many  are  unwillingly  subject,  '  business  before  friends.' 
But  the  time  is  come  for  you,  my  friend  and  brother,  to  have 
'  some  fragment  of  time,  which  otherwise  might  be  lost,'  de- 
voted to  you.  Indeed,  I  fear  too  many  fragments  of  my  time 
are  lost.  But  what  I  most  reflect  upon  is,  that  that  portion  of  it 
which  is  employed,  and  diligently  employed,  is  comparatively 
lost,  for  want  of  the  holy  unction  that  gives  an  unearthly 
energy  to  the  mind  and  an  uncommon  efficiency  and  success 
to  the  labours  of  the  deeply-devoted  servants  of  God.  Much, 
under  God,  is  to  be  attributed,  I  know,  to  commanding  tal- 
ents judiciously  employed ;  but  what  a  crowning  energy 
there  is  in  the  language  and  labours  of  that  man  whose  soul 
is  fired  at  the  altar  of  Heaven  !  How  that  man  preaches 
who  feels  the  word  of  God  '  like  a  fire  in  his  bones,'  and 
who  1  longs  to  speak  that  he  may  be  refreshed  !'  Of  this 
feeling  I  have  too  little.  Sometimes,  in  the  midst  of  my 
other  avocations,  my  mind  becomes  so  barren  that  I  seem 
to  have  none  of  the  spirit  of  an  ambassador  of  the  skies  ;  and 
this  often  leads  me  to  doubt  whether,  in  the  engrossing  cares 
of  the  institution,  I  am  in  the  way  of  my  duty.  I  have  one 
thing,  however,  to  encourage  me  :  most  generally,  when  I 
attempt  to  speak,  the  Lord  fills  my  heart  and  my  mouth. 
O,  who  would  not  preach  such  a  Gospel  with  such  helps  ? 
I  would  not  exchange  my  commission  to  preach  the  Gospel 
for  a  throne." 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


225 


To  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Richardson,  East  Cambridge. 

"  Wilbraham,  April  26,  1830. 
"  I  was  gratified  in  receiving  a  letter  from  you,  and,  al- 
though I  have  very  little  time  to  write,  as  I  am  preparing  to 
go  to  New- York,  still  I  feel  disposed  to  drop  you  a  line,  that 
you  may  know  I  am  not  inattentive  altogether  to  the  claims 
of  friendship.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  learn  that  you  have 
some  refreshing  drops  on  that  barren  point.  May  a  shower 
follow !  I  have  no  doubt  a  powerful  reformation  would  do 
them  good  ;  but  it  would  take  a  more  powerful  heat  than  that 
which  melts  the  flint  in  their  glass  (works*)  to  melt  down  the 
motley  mass  of  character  in  your  charge,  and  purify  them 
into  the  transparent  medium  of  Gospel  sincerity.  But  we 
need  not  despair ;  the  Gospel  has  power  in  it.  Have  you 
done  anything  yet  in  the  Temperance  cause  ?  Would  it 
not  be  well  to  get  some  tracts  on  the  subject,  and  circulate 
them  among  the  people,  and  then  preach  them  a  tremen- 
dous sermon,  and  form  a  Temperance  Society  ?  This  work 
must  go  on ;  and  to  this  end  we  must  all  keep  an  eye.', 

The  next  is  an  answer  to  a  letter  which  he  received  from  a 
young  gentleman  of  fine  talents,  a  student  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, formerly  one  of  his  pupils  at  Wilbraham,  and  at  the 
present  time  a  highly  respectable  and  useful  minister  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  nature  of  the  letter  will 
appear  from  the  answer. 

"  Wilbraham,  August  29,  1830. 

"  My  dear  Brother, 

"  I  rejoice  greatly  to  learn  that  you  have  been  enabled  '  to 
make  an  unreserved  dedication  of  all  you  have  and  are  to 
God.'  I  cannot  readily  describe  to  you  the  feelings  of  my 
heart  on  receiving  this  joyful  intelligence.  I  always  felt  a 
special  interest  in  your  welfare ;  but  I  began  to  fear  that  the 
world  had  so  far  ensnared  your  heart,  and  its  prospects  and 
allurements  had  so  far  engrossed  your  affections,  that  there 
was  little  hope  of  your  breaking  the  fascinating  spell,  and  of 
*  The  word  is  illegible  in  the  manuscript. 

F  F 


226 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


your  deciding  to  live  and  die  for  God.  But  God  be  thank- 
ed that  you  have  at  length  deliberately  and  decidedly  form- 
ed the  resolution,  and  that  God  has  accepted  the  offering 
of  your  heart.  I  have  only  one  remaining  anxiety  left  re- 
specting you,  and  that  is,  that  you  may  persevere  unto  the 
end.  I  know  the  temptations  you  will  have  to  meet.  I 
know  the  peculiar  inducements  to  vain  conversation,  to  neg- 
lect of  prayer,  and  to  pride  and  ambition,  which  lie  espe- 
cially in  the  path  of  the  scholar.  But  you  have  intimated 
several  things  in  your  letter  which  give  me  much  encourage- 
ment in  your  case.  You  seem  to  be  aware  of  your  danger, 
and  therefore  you  will  be  on  your  watch.  Besides,  you 
seem  to  attach  yourself  strongly  and  warmly  to  that  church 
whose  doctrine  and  discipline,  in  my  opinion,  are  peculiarly 
calculated  to  help  on  the  young  Christian  in  his  religious 
course.  In  addition,  you  seem  desirous  to  be  useful,  and  to 
devote  your  talents  and  acquirements  to  the  service  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  world.  And,  finally,  you  have  placed  be- 
fore you,  as  an  example,  the  great  and  good  Wesley.  All 
these  things  strengthen  my  hopes  concerning  you.  Maintain- 
ing this  course,  and  pursuing  these  objects,  you  shall  finally 
triumph,  and  gain  the  prize  ;  yea,  will  persuade  others  to  pur- 
sue the  same  happy  course.  But  let  me  say  to  you,  the  only 
way  of  safety  and  of  usefulness  is  to  keep  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  humble  and  devout.  Keep  your  soul  alive  in  the  spir- 
it of  devotion,  and  all  the  rest  will  be  well.  The  moment 
you  feel  your  soul  declining  in  spiritual  life,  go  to  your  closet, 
and  wrestle  with  God  till  you  prevail.  Beware  of  your  so- 
cial  feelings.  These,  even  in  religious  company,  and  in  re- 
ligious exercises  and  conversation,  may  be  indulged  too  far. 
Here,  perhaps  oftener  than  anywhere  else,  the  young  Chris- 
tian stumbles  ;  and  those  of  your  warm  and  social  tempera- 
ment are  more  exposed  in  this  way  than  those  of  a  different 
temperament. 

"  My  young  friend,  God  has  given  you  your  portion  of  ex- 
istence in  a  very  interesting  age  of  the  world,  and  called  you 
to  his  favour  and  service  at  a  very  interesting  time  of  life. 
Never  was  there  a  time  for  such  extensive  and  promising 
moral  enterprise  as  the  present ;  and  seldom  has  any  young 


LETTER  TO  HIS  MOTHER. 


227 


man  had  better  opportunities  to  prepare  for  this  work  than  you 
have.  The  world  is  before  you  ;  the  Church  is  before  you  ; 
the  favourable  providences  of  God  are  with  you.  O !  may 
you  be  a  faithful  soldier  in  this  cause.  The  prospect  before 
you  is  a  glorious  one  !  How  many  unfading  laurels  you  may 
gather  in  this  noble  enterprise,  this  holy  warfare  !  My  life 
must  soon  decline,  my  physical  energies  are  already  impair- 
ed, and  the  intellectual,  feeble  at  best,  must  soon  wane  ; 
but  thanks  be  to  God  that  he  is  raising  up  young  men  for 
the  work,  who,  I  trust,  with  an  untiring  zeal,  will  take  the 
field  and  fight  the  battles  of  the  Lord." 

To  his  Mother. 

"Middletown,  July  12,  1831. 

"Dear  Mother, 

"  I  have  written  to  Mary  and  to  father  since  I  have  re- 
ceived letters  from  them,  and  it  has  now  been  several  months, 
I  believe,  since  I  have  heard  anything  directly  from  Lyn- 
don. I  hope  you  are  all  well ;  but  it  would  be  pleasant  to 
me  to  hear  from  you  a  little  oftener.  It  is  said  children  do 
not  think  of  their  parents,  when  absent,  as  often  as  parents 
do  of  them.  This  may  be  true ;  but  I  think  of  my  parents 
often  enough  to  wish  to  hear  from  them  more  frequently 
than  I  do.  Indeed,  I  feel  my  affection  for  my  family  con- 
nexions strong  and  unalienable ;  and  though  called,  as  I  sup- 
pose, by  the  providence  of  God,  to  spend  my  life  mostly  at 
a  distance  from  them,  still  they  have  a  warm  place  in  my 
affections  and  unworthy  prayers.  Seeing,  as  I  do,  that  you 
are  beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  age  and  infirmity,  and  that 
you  are  not  only  feeble  in  body,  but  frequently  depressed  in 
mind,  I  feel  very  solicitous  to  have  the  privilege  of  soothing 
the  anxieties,  and  elevating  the  depressions  of  age.  I  have 
no  doubt  but  that  your  pilgrimage  will  end  in  triumph  ;  for 
doubtless  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  has  in  reserve  for 
you  an  incorruptible  crown,  an  unfading-  inheritance.  But  I 
would  not  like  to  have  your  declining  sun  obscured  by  any 
transient  cloud  of  gloom.  Your  life  of  faith  ought  to  be 
followed  by  an  old  age  of  comfort  and  joy,  as  well  as  by  an 
eternity  of  triumph.    I  hope  you  have  an  increase  of  spirit- 


228 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ual  animation  since  I  last  saw  you.  How  do  your  domestic 
concerns  prosper  ?  How  is  your  health  ?  How  is  your  faith 
in  the  promises  ?  These  and  many  more  questions  I  would 
ask  if  I  were  with  you ;  but  I  do  not  expect  you  will  answer 
them  by  letter  with  your  trembling  hand.  You  might,  how- 
ever, get  Mary,  in  connexion  with  some  communication  from 
herself,  or  father,  when  he  writes,  to  say  something  on 
these  subjects." 

The  Methodists  have  always  been  remarkable  for  carrying 
their  labours  into  every  place  where  they  were  needed,  and 
where  Providence  seemed  to  present  an  open  door.  Where 
they  have  been  received  and  treated  with  Christian  courtesy 
by  the  other  denominations,  things  have  usually  gone  on  in 
harmony  ;  but  where  they  have  met  with  repulses  or  improper 
treatment,  it  has  not  unfrequently  resulted  in  the  confusion 
of  their  opponents.  In  saying  this,  I  do  not  mean  to  assert 
that  the  Methodists,  under  such  treatment,  have  never  acted 
injudiciously,  but  merely  to  state  the  fact  that  violent  oppo- 
sition to  them  has  seldom  been  successful.  Several  illustra- 
tions of  this  occurred  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Fisk. 

In  the  town  of  Greenwich,  about  twelve  miles  from  Wil- 
braham,  there  had  been  Methodist  preaching  for  some 
time,  which  produced  considerable  religious  interest.  They 
preached,  of  course,  their  own  doctrine  clearly  and  fully. 
This  excited  uneasiness  among  the  Calvinistic  portion  of  the 
population,  who  had  a  strong  desire  to  keep  the  Methodists 
out  of  the  place,  and  attempted  it  in  various  ways.  The 
town  was  now  divided  into  two  parties,  those  who  believed 
in  election  and  predestination,  and  those  who  held  with  the 
Methodists.  In  this  state  of  things,  Dr.  Fisk,  who  had 
preached  there  several  times,  was  requested  by  some  re- 
spectable gentlemen  to  preach  on  the  contested  points.  In 
pursuance  of  this  request,  he  delivered  his  celebrated  dis- 
course on  predestination  and  election. 

In  a  few  days  he  received  a  most  pressing  invitation,  sign- 
ed by  Laban  Marcy,  Esq.,  and  others,  requesting  a  copy  for 
publication.  This  was  the  occasion  of  this  sermon's  going 
to  press.   It  is  asserted  that  many  in  the  very  large  audience 


VALEDICTORY  AT  WILBRAHAM. 


229 


who  heard  it  preached  were  convinced  by  it  of  the  errors  of 
the  predestinarian  theory,  and  others  have  been  convinced 
by  reading  it  in  print. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  when  Dr.  Fisk  must  take  leave 
of  his  friends  and  pupils  at  Wilbraham.  It  was  a  season  of 
deep  interest  and  unfeigned  sorrow,  and  strong  were  the  ex- 
pressions of  affectionate  regard  for  him,  both  in  the  academy 
and  among  the  citizens. 

On  this  occasion  he  delivered  to  the  school  a  valedictory 
address,  which  was  highly  interesting,  and  creditable  to  all 
parties.  But  it  would  swell  our  volume  too  much  to  intro- 
duce more  in  this  place  than  an  extract,  merely  to  exhibit 
his  views  and  feelings  on  dissolving  this  interesting  con- 
nexion. Towards  the  close  of  his  address,  the  speaker  pro- 
ceeded : 

"  Five  years  of  labour  and  anxiety  have  deeply  enlisted 
and  closely  connected  every  feeling  of  my  heart  in  its  (the 
institution's)  behalf.  Such  have  been  the  variety  and  extent 
of  my  labours,  that,  contrary  to  general  experience  with  re- 
spect to  past  time,  the  period  seems,  upon  the  review,  like 
half  an  age  instead  of  five  years.  But  in  this  retrospect  I 
have  nothing  to  regret  with  respect  to  my  connexion  with 
the  school  but  my  own  imperfections  and  mistakes  ;  of  these 
I  have  had  an  abundant  share,  and  have  needed  the  forbear- 
ance of  the  trustees  and  the  charity  of  the  public  :  aside  from 
these,  the  review  is,  on  the  whole,  pleasant. 

"  My  experience  has  been  profitable.  I  have  had  an  op- 
portunity of  taking  many  interesting  lessons  in  studying  the 
unsophisticated  character  of  childhood  and  youth ;  I  have 
become  more  interested  in  the  improvement  of  the  rising 
generation,  and  have  gained  a  fixed  purpose  of  devoting  to 
this  work,  in  connexion  with  my  ministerial  duties,  the  little 
I  may  have  of  talent  or  influence,  and  the  remainder  of  a 
feeble  constitution  and  short  life. 

"  I  had  rather  have  my  name  embalmed  in  the  memory 
and  affections  of  the  rising  generation,  than  to  gather  mili- 
tary honours  in  the  field  of  battle,  or  civic  wreaths  in  the 
Senate  House,  or  to  have  it  emblazoned  on  the  proudest 
escutcheons  of  this  world's  glory.  The  triumphs  of  this  day, 
20 


230 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


however  subordinate  and  limited  the  field  of  operations  may 
have  been,  surrounded  as  I  am  by  a  hundred  and  fifty 
youths,  who  have  gathered  around  our  literary  standard,  and 
with  whom  we  associate  on  terms  of  reciprocal  affection,  are 
an  ample  compensation  for  all  past  labours  and  solicitudes. 

"  I  stand  here  this  day,  also,  with  the  consciousness  of 
having  aimed  to  do  my  duty,  both  to  the  people  of  the  place 
and  to  the  school.  I  have  coveted  no  man's  gold  or  silver  ; 
I  brought  none  here,  I  shall  carry  none  away ;  nay,  but  ye 
bear  me  witness  that  I  have  been  willing  to  spend  and  be 
spent  for  you.  If  I  can  carry  away  a  clear  conscience  to- 
wards God  and  towards  man,  it  is  all  I  ask. 

"  If  this  were  the  last  day  I  were  to  reside  among  you,  I 
should  not  take  a  formal  leave  of  the  school  or  the  people, 
for  my  connexion  with  them  is  not  wholly  broken  off;  both 
my  affection  and  relation  to  the  school  will  often  call  me 
here.  And  I  still  hope,  under  God,  to  contribute,  as  I  am 
able,  something  still — even  for  years,  if  life  should  be  spared 
i — to  the  aid  of  this  institution." 

The  following  extract  will  give  a  general  view  of  the  re- 
sults of  this  school.  We  believe  its  subsequent  history  has 
corresponded  in  a  good  degree  with  these  early  indications: 

"  At  the  opening  of  this  school  we  had  seven  scholars, 
since  which  time  we  have  entered  upon  our  books  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  fifty  different  scholars.  Of  these 
about  thirty  have  entered  the  sacred  ministry,  a  number  are 
pursuing  the  study  of  law  or  physic,  from  twenty  to  thirty 
are  now  pursuing  a  college  course,  and  from  a  hundred  and 
thirty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  have  gone  out  of  our  seminary 
at  different  times  as  teachers. 

"  We  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  keeping  many  of  our 
scholars  several  years,  and  many,  very  many,  have  returned 
to  us  from  their  different  occupations  a  part  of  the  season, 
year  after  year,  to  pursue  their  education.  Our  number  has 
gradually  increased  up  to  the  present  term,  and  the  advan- 
tages of  the  school  have  also  increased.' ' 

In  the  month  of  December  our  subject  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Middletown,  leaving  his  family,  however,  in  Wil- 
braham  until  the  ensuing  spring.    Some  passages  from  a 


REMOVAL  TO  MIDDLETOWN. 


231 


letter  to  his  cousin  at  Brattleborough  about  this  period  will 
be  read  with  interest. 

"  Middletown,  December  31,  1830. 

"  I  am  once  more  in  college.  I  entered  on  the  18th  in- 
stant, after  having  been  a  graduate  fifteen  years  and  four 
months.  I  have  my  room,  bed,  table,  chair,  &c,  as  former- 
ly, and  here  I  spend  my  days  and  nights,  and  enjoy  a  soli- 
tude and  leisure  from  perplexing  care  and  toil,  to  which,  for 
these  six  years  past,  I  have  been  an  entire  stranger.  For 
certain  reasons,  it  was  not  thought  advisable  for  my  family 
to  remove  here  this  winter ;  they  remain  at  Wilbraham, 
therefore,  until  spring.  In  the  mean  time,  my  retirement  is  to 
be  short.  I  expect  to  start  to-morrow  for  Wilbraham,  to 
make  a  short  visit  to  my  family  preparatory  to  an  excursion 
to  New-York  on  my  old  business — begging ;  after  which 
I  shall  probably  visit  Boston,  and  perhaps  New-Bedford  and 
Providence.  For  this  winter  campaign  I  enjoy  a  good  de- 
gree of  health  and  strength,  through  the  goodness  of  God ; 
and  as  much  courage  as  strength.  With  the  favour  of  Di- 
vine Providence,  I  expect  we  shall  succeed  ;  at  any  rate,  we 
shall  try.  But  I  will  not  trouble  you  with  a  long  story  on 
this  subject.  My  friends,  I  suppose,  are  not  as  much  inter- 
ested in  my  hobbies  as  I  am  ;  but  I  thought  they  might 
wish  to  know  where  I  am  and  what  I  am  doing.     *  * 

"  The  clock  reminds  me  that  in  about  four  hours  more  the 
year  1830  will  close.  It  has  gone  with  the  years  beyond 
the  flood  ;  gone,  with  all  its  records  of  character  and  con- 
duct for  and  against  us.  There  are  a  thousand  common- 
place sayings  concerning  the  lapse  of  time  which  men  are 
accustomed  to  use  at  this  annual  period,  but  none  of  them 
seem  to  have  much  effect  upon  us  when  made  in  the  way  of 
general  remark.  But  who  can  sit  down  and  call  himself  to 
a  strict  account,  personally  and  conscientiously,  without 
trembling  before  God,  and  confessing  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  ? 
Alas !  how  little  have  I  done  for  God  compared  with  what 
he  has  done  for  me  !  How  little  for  the  Church  and  the 
world  !  This  seems  to  me  to  be  a  time  for  great  exertion. 
Who  has  girded  himself  for  the  battle  as  he  ought  ?    If  ever 


232 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


it  was  pre-eminently  criminal  for  the  people  of  God  to  sleep 
upon  their  posts,  I  believe  it  is  now.  The  signs  of  the  times 
portend  that  the  shaking  of  the  nations  is  at  hand.  What 
commotions  in  Europe  !  Who  that  sees  the  mustering  of  ar- 
mies, the  furbishing  of  arms,  the  note  of  busy  preparation 
for  the  work  of  death,  but  must  groan  in  spirit,  and  pray  for 
an  arrest  of  judgment,  and  a  staying  of  the  fury  of  the  Lord  ! 
Before  the  next  year  closes,  according  to  present  appear- 
ances, what  multitudes  of  mothers  will  be  left  widows  and 
childless !  What  rivers  of  blood  will  be  shed !  What 
groans  will  be  uttered  in  the  field  of  battle  !  and,  above  all, 
what  multitudes  of  souls,  unwashed  and  unforgiven,  will  be 
hurried  into  eternity !  O,  my  God,  my  heart  sickens  at  the 
sight !  But  faith  looks  through  those  scenes  of  blood,  and 
this  murky,  humid  atmosphere,  saturated  with  the  bloody 
vapour  that  rolls  up  from  the  heaps  of  the  slain,  and  sees  that 
when  a  third  part  of  the  men  are  slain,  and  the  nations  are 
convulsed  and  overthrown,  1  the  God  of  heaven  shall  set  up 
a  kingdom  which  shall  endure  forever.'  May  he  hasten  it 
in  his  own  time." 

After  the  above-mentioned  visit  to  Wilbraham,  having  re- 
turned as  far  as  Middletown  on  his  way  to  New- York  to 
raise  funds  for  the  University,  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Fisk  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Middletown,  January  14,  1831. 
"  When  I  parted  with  you,  I  thought  I  should  not  write 
until  I  arrived  at  New- York  ;  but,  for  various  reasons,  I 
have  deferred  my  journey  until  to-day,  and  shall  go  on  to 
New-Haven  to  spend  the  Sabbath,  and  not  reach  New-York 
till  next  week.  I  therefore  drop  you  a  line  to  let  you  know 
of  my  safe  arrival,  comfortable  health,  &c.  I  had  a  time  of 
it  getting  over  the  river  the  morning  I  left  Springfield,  being 
under  the  necessity  of  travelling  two  o^  three  miles  on  foot, 
and  carrying  my  valise,  and  a  part  of  the  way  on  fences  and 
lopped  trees,  to  get  over  the  meadows  which  were  overflowed. 
However,  I  arrived  safe,  and  attended  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing ;  rode  into  Hartford,  and  preached  on  Sabbath  evening, 


OPENING  OF  THE  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY. 


233 


and  on  Monday  arrived  here.  I  have  been  troubled  some- 
what with  a  cold.  The  weather  is  extremely  cold ;  the  nights 
long  and  rather  tedious,  as  I  feel  little  inclined  to  sleep  ;  and 
the  regions  of  frost  seem  all  around  me  and  almost  touching 
me,  though  I  make  out  to  keep  tolerably  comfortable. 

"  What  success  I  shall  have  in  New- York  is  very  prob- 
lematical ;  but  I  must  go  and  do  what  I  can.  My  stay  there 
will  depend  on  circumstances  ;  but  I  will  advertise  you  from 
time  to  time  of  my  operations.  I  rather  dread  engaging  in 
these  conflicts  with  selfishness  and  covetousness  ;  but,  when 
I  get  well  engaged,  I  can  drive  on  with  pretty  good  courage. 
I  sometimes  ask  myself,  Am  I  never  to  have  done  with  these 
new  enterprises  ?  To  be  always  pushing  up  hill  is  hard  work, 
but  I  suppose  I  must  tug  on.  Perhaps,  if  I  have  any  appro- 
priate place  in  the  army  of  the  faithful,  it  is  that  of  a  pioneer. 
This  is  not  the  easiest  department,  but  still  I  like  it,  because 
it  has  so  much  of  chivalry  in  it,  and  keeps  the  mind  so  much 
awake  to  its  duties.  What  a  dull  world  this  would  have 
been  if  our  Creator  had  left  everything  prepared  and  planned 
to  our  hands  !  I  am  glad  he  did  not  do  it.  It  was  enough 
that  he  furnished  materials,  and  tools,  and  a  mind,  and  com- 
manded us  to  invent,  and  plan,  and  fashion,  and  execute,  ac- 
cording to  our  several  ability.  O,  there  is  an  interest  in  this 
course,  which  wakes  up  the  soul,  and  calls  out  the  energies 
of  the  intellect,  and  makes  man  feel  that  he  does  not  live  in 
vain.  I  wonder  if  heaven  will  not  be  a  place  of  enterprise  ! 
Or  shall  we  be  so  1  satisfied  when  we  wake  up  in  his  like- 
ness,' and  1  see  as  we  are  seen,'  and  1  know  as  we  are  known,' 
that  this  prying,  and  toiling,  and  enterprising  spirit  will  then 
be  at  rest,  or  be  excited  and  exercised  only  with  joyous  won- 
der and  ecstatic  praise  ?  Probably  the  latter  will  be  the  true 
state  of  the  glorified  saints,  but  never  before.  At  any  rate, 
my  dear  R.,  may  we  so  perform  our  part  here  as  finally  to 
know  by  experience  in  what  heaven  consists." 

On  the  21st  day  of  September,  1831,  the  halls  of  the  Uni- 
versity were  thrown  open  for  the  reception  of  students,  and 
the  occasion  was  celebrated  by  appropriate  literary  ceremo- 
nies.   After  prayer  by  the  president,  a  salutatory  address  in 
20*  "        G  g 


234 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Latin,  and  a  poem  and  oration  in  English,  were  delivered  by 
three  of  the  students,  after  which  Dr.  Fisk  delivered  his  in- 
augural address.  This  able  production  was  listened  to  with 
profound  attention  by  the  friends  of  education,  while  it  fully 
sustained  the  reputation  of  its  author.  Many  flattering  tes- 
timonies of  approbation  were  received,  some  of  them  from 
persons  of  distinction,  expressed  in  the  warmest  terms.  It 
was  immediately  published  in  pamphlet  form,  and  in  the 
leading  periodicals  of  the  Church,  and  was  soon  circulated 
throughout  the  Union.  The  consequence  was,  the  immediate 
elevation  of  the  institution  over  which  the  author  presided 
to  a  commanding  position  before  the  public ;  and  many  sought 
to  place  themselves  under  a  mind  so  sound  and  vigorous,  so 
pure  and  elevated,  so  richly  fraught  with  the  moral  and  men- 
tal endowments  requisite  to  the  responsible  station  which  he 
occupied. 

From  the  remarks  in  this  address  on  the  study  of  ancient 
languages,  some  have  drawn  the  conclusion  that  the  author 
did  not  properly  appreciate  their  value.  But  this  is  unwar- 
ranted. It  never  was  his  intention  to  reduce  the  requisitions 
for  a  diploma  below  those  of  the  most  respectable  institutions 
in  the  country.  But  there  were  many  young  men  in  the 
Methodist  community  of  superior  talents,  who,  though  they 
had  passed  the  period  of  life  when  the  ancient  languages 
could  be  pursued  to  greatest  advantage,  might  nevertheless 
attain  to  very  respectable  proficiency  in  science  and  Eng- 
lish literature.  To  encourage  this  class  to  pursue  such  stud- 
ies as  were  adapted  to  their  years,  was  his  object  in  these 
remarks,  and  hence,  also,  he  admitted,  in  his  system,  the 
"partial  course,"  made  up  entirely  of  the  English  branches. 
Such  students,  however,  received,  instead  of  a  regular  col- 
legiate degree,  a  certificate,  or  modified  diploma,  testifying 
their  attainments  in  the  several  branches  they  had  studied. 

On  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages  he  never  went  so 
far  as  Dr.  Rush,  who  thought  the  time  Dpent  in  them  almost 
lost ;  and  for  the  views  which  he  did  entertain  he  was  sus- 
tained by  very  respectable  modern  authorities.  The  same 
views  were  advanced  at  the  New- York  Literary  Convention 
elsewhere  spoken  of,  especially  by  Professor  Vethake  and 


STUDIES  AND  CLASSIFICATION. 


235 


Mr.  Gallaudet.  In  support  of  them,  the  example  of  the 
Polytechnic  School  in  Paris  was  adduced,  together  with  an 
institution  of  a  high  order  at  Berlin,  in  Prussia. 

Dr.  Fisk's  views  of  the  classification  of  students  differed 
from  those  which  generally  prevailed.  In  the  Wesleyan 
University,  the  students  were  arranged,  not  in  classes,  ac- 
cording to  the  length  of  standing,  but  in  sections,  according 
to  their  advancement.  The  diploma  was  to  be  received 
whenever  the  candidate  was  prepared  for  it,  without  regard 
to  the  time  spent  at  college.  His  views  upon  this  subject 
were  not  adopted  hastily,  nor  without  suitable  consultation. 
Besides  others,  he  received  letters  on  the  subject  from  Dr. 
Olin,  Professor  (now  President)  Durbin,  who  were  enrolled 
in  the  Faculty  of  the  University,  though  they  subsequently 
resigned  ;  from  the  able  president  of  Brown  University,  and 
from  President  Marsh,  of  the  University  of  Vermont.  In 
the  last-named  institution,  the  plan  was  already  in  success- 
ful operation,  though  it  has  been  since  abandoned.  In  the 
Wesleyan  University,  the  ancient  names  of  the  classes  have 
been  restored,  without  materially  deviating  from  the  new 
principle.  The  student  enters  any  class  for  which  he  is  pre- 
pared, takes  as  many  studies  as  he  has  ability  successfully 
to  carry  on,  and  receives  his  degree  whenever  he  has  ac- 
complished the  entire  collegiate  course,  be  it  sooner  or  later. 
But  by  far  the  greater  number  go  regularly  through,  as  in 
other  colleges ;  a  course  always  recommended  when  no  se- 
rious obstacles  exist. 

In  the  month  of  October  in  the  preceding  year  (1830),  at 
a  convention  of  literary  and  scientific  gentlemen  held  in  the 
City  of  New- York,  these  views  were  very  clearly  and  forci- 
bly advanced.  They  were  the  subject  of  an  able  and  inter- 
esting communication  from  Professor  Vethake,  presented  to 
the  Convention  and  read  by  the  Reverend  Dr.  Wainwright. 
Whether  Dr.  Fisk  was  aware  of  this  fact,  I  cannot  say. 
Probably  he  was  not,  as  he  was  not  at  the  Convention,  and 
the  Journal  of  the  Convention  was  not  printed  until  1831, 
most  likely  after  the  inaugural  address  was  composed.  Yet 
the  views  were  entirely  his  own,  both  in  regard  to  the  points 
already  named,  and  the  distribution  of  college  honours. 


236 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


These  he  thought  decidedly  objectionable,  often  unjust,  and 
therefore  injurious,  and  always  creating  an  unwholesome 
moral  influence  by  presenting  improper  motives  to  exertion. 
Even  the  assignment  of  the  parts  at  the  public  exhibitions 
were  distributed  on  the  ground  of  general  expediency  rather 
than  on  that  of  scholarship.  If  it  be  objected  that  this  di- 
minishes the  stimulus  of  emulation,  we  might  answer  that  it 
still  leaves  ample  room  for  as  much  as  is  virtuous  and  health- 
ful, and  more  than  this  is  pernicious. 

It  was  Dr.  Fisk's  wish  to  have  had  one  year  allowed  him 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  place  the  institution  on  a 
liberal  and  permanent  foundation  ;  but  this  was  overruled. 
Nevertheless,  he  made  great  personal  exertions  to  assist  the 
agents  of  the  Conferences  in  this  business.  It  is  matter  of 
regret,  that  one  whose  talents  should  have  been  employed  in 
a  sphere  so  much  more  elevated,  was  obliged  to  spend  so 
much  time  in  a  work  that  might  have  been  accomplished  by 
a  much  lower  amount  of  talent  and  learning ;  but,  in  the  in- 
fancy of  the  cause,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  undertaking,  and  Dr.  Fisk  never,  from  personal 
considerations,  declined  labour  in  any  department,  however 
humble,  when  he  thought  his  efforts  were  really  demanded. 
He  also  desired  to  send  to  Europe  for  philosophical  appara- 
tus, and  arrangements  were  made  for  this  purpose ;  but,  for 
some  reason,  the  project  was  abandoned. 

Dr.  Fisk  was  now  fully  inducted  into  his  new  office,  and 
found  himself  involved  in  as  much  business  as  ever.  His 
hands,  and  head,  and  heart  were  completely  occupied.  He 
was  again  the  principal  of  a  new  institution,  where  the  found- 
ation had  to  be  laid  and  the  superstructure  reared.  In  such 
a  situation,  one  with  his  peculiar  disposition  would  necessa- 
rily find  ample  occupation.  All  called  upon  him  for  advice 
or  other  aid,  and  his  supervision  extended  everywhere.  He 
draughted  rules  for  the  University,  and  framed  the  regula- 
tions of  the  boarding  department  ;  he  superintended  the 
studies  in  the  college,  and  the  pecuniary  arrangements  of 
the  Prudential  Committee ;  he  heard  classes  recite  in  Greek, 
Latin,  and  Metaphysics,  and  listened  to  the  petty  details  of 
the  students'  personal  concerns ;  and  while  he  aided  the  pro- 


MULTIFARIOUS  OCCLTATIONS. 


237 


fessors  in  the  higher  regions  of  mind,  he  often  came  down  to 
the  examination  of  the  accounts  of  the  institution  in  dollars 
and  cents.  He  was  remarkably  fitted  for  this  multiplicity 
of  business  by  his  peculiar  tact  in  management,  his  readi- 
ness and  flexibility  of  mind,  his  knowledge  of  men,  habits 
of  order,  and  facility  in  executing  his  plans.  He  was  never 
embarrassed,  never  out  of  temper.  Always  calm,  even  in 
the  midst  of  tumult,  he  never  lost  the  control  of  his  facul- 
ties. An  influential  business  man  of  liberal  education,  re- 
sponsible civil  office,  and  a  member  of  the  Prudential  Com- 
mittee, remarked  to  me  that  he  had  seldom  been  more  sur- 
prised than  at  the  first  meetings  which  he  attended  with  Dr. 
Fisk.  He  exhibited  such  knowledge  of  affairs,  such  fertility 
of  mind,  skill,  and  address  in  transacting  business,  as  very 
soon  convinced  him  that  they  had  no  ordinary  man  to  deal 
with.  Skill  in  securing  co-operation  in  his  plans  was  one 
of  his  peculiar  qualifications.  All  had  confidence  in  his  judg- 
ment, and  in  most  things  readily  yielded  to  his  views.  His 
own  mind  seemed  the  centre  of  light  and  influence,  and  its 
radiations  illumined  all  who  were  about  him.  ^ 
An  extract  from  a  letter  to  his  cousin  at  Brattleborough 
is  in  keeping  with  his  character.  It  is  a  pleasing  specimen 
of  his  mind,  exhibiting  alike  that  vein  of  pleasantry  which 
often  marked  his  intercourse  with  his  intimate  friends,  and 
his  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the  world. 

"  Middletown,  Sept.  29,  1831. 
"  In  looking  over  my  unanswered  letters,  I  find  I  have  been 
in  debt  to  you  and  your  dear  mother  ever  since  last  May. 
As  you  know  something  of  my  situation,  however,  I  doubt 
not  but  you  will  excuse  the  delay,  without  requiring  me  to 
plead  specifically  and  in  detail  in  my  own  defence.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that,  in  changing  my  situation  from  Wilbraham  to 
this  place,  I  took  a  second  office  before  I  had  given  up  the 
first,  which  threw  upon  me  a  double  duty,  divided  by  a  dis- 
tance of  45  miles,  and  each  part  increased  by  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances. I  am  now,  however,  somewhat' relieved.  Rev. 
Win,  M.  Bangs,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs  of  New- York,  has 
been  appointed  my  successor  at  Wilbraham,  and.  our  new 


238 


LIFE   OF   WILLBUR  FISK. 


institution  has  at  length  struggled  her  way  into  being.  She 
is  a  promising  daughter  nine  days  old,  and,  though  so  young, 
already  appears  quite  womanly,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  her 
parents  at  least,  quite  interesting  and  hopeful.  If  we  can 
give  her  a  good  training  and  a  proper  direction,  we  are  con- 
fident she  will  in  her  turn  become  the  Alma  Mater  of  many 
interesting  sons,  who  will  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed,  and 
will  go  forth  from  her  tuition  to  bless  the  world.  Forty-five 
promising  youths  have  already  joined  her  family  and  soli- 
cited her  patronage.  We  are  hoping  they  will  not  be  train- 
ed to  selfishness,  to  be  emulous  of  earthly  honour,  and  cov- 
etous of  earthly  gain ;  but  will  be  such  as  the  present  cir- 
cumstances of  the  world  require,  men  of  enlarged  philan- 
thropy, of  godlike  benevolence,  who  shall  go  forth  in  the 
great  work  of  conquering  the  world  for  Christ.  If  I  thought 
this  would  not  be  the  result,  I  would  now  quit  my  station 
and  take  the  field,  and  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible  to  the 
common  enemy.  I  can  hardly  restrain  myself  as  it  is.  It 
looks  so  blessed  to  be  engaged  directly  in  the  work  of  saving 
souls,  especially  at  this  season  of  general  revival,  that  I  hard- 
ly know  how  to  confine  myself  within  these  stone  walls.  O, 
what  an  eventful  day  is  this  !  Is  God  gathering  in  his  elect 
preparatory  to  those  judgments  which  will  sweep  away  the 
incorrigibly  impenitent  ?  Is  he  '  yet  once  more  shaking  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,'  that  '  those  things  which  are  shaken' 
may  be  removed,  and  that  1  those  things  which  cannot  be 
shaken  may  remain  V  At  any  rate,  my  dear  friend,  '  let  us, 
receiving  a  kingdom  which  cannot  be  moved,  have  grace 
to  serve  God  acceptably,  with  reverence  and  godly  fear,' 
and  let  us  do  what  we  can  to  get  others  on  the  same  immo- 
vable foundation." 

The  following  note,  accompanying  the  copy  of  an  original 
letter  from  Dr.  Fisk,  is  from  one  of  the  doctor's  early  pupils. 
The  note  shows  the  occasion  on  which  the  letter  was  writ- 
ten, and  at  the  same  time  exhibits  the  feelings  of  the  writer 
towards  his  instructer  : 


SPIRITUAL  COUNSEL. 


239 


"Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  just  read  a  note  from  you,  soliciting  letters,  &c, 
written  by  the  late  Dr.  Fisk.  Though  very  unworthy,  it  has 
been  my  happiness  to  enjoy  the  confidence  and  regard  of 
Dr.  Fisk  for  the  last  ten  years.  Were  he  now  on  the  shores 
of  mortality,  I  could  not  repay  to  him  the  kindness  and  in- 
struction I  have  received.  Under  God,  he  was  the  means 
of  my  awakening  and  conversion  at  Wilbraham,  and  every 
important  step  I  have  taken  since  that  period  has  been  with 
his  counsel  and  advice.  While  in  college  I  was  accustom- 
ed to  lay  before  him  my  peculiar  feelings,  and  the  following 
letter  was  received  in  answer  to  some  of  my  inquiries  : 

Wesleyan  University,  October  28,  1831. 

"  'Dear  Brother, 

11  i  In  reply  to  your  inquiries,  I  have  only  time  for  a  few 
thoughts.  Your  state  of  feeling  is,  on  the  whole,  encoura- 
ging. I  should  judge  the  good  Spirit  was  leading  you  on 
lo  know  more  perfectly  the  deep  things  of  the  kingdom ; 
and,  though  this  may  be  done  in  a  way  different  from  what 
you  might  desire,  it  is  no  uncommon  way,  nor  yet  is  it  un- 
profitable. The  Lord's  way  is  always  the  best,  and  we 
may  know  that  we  are  led  in  this  way  whenever  we  give 
ourselves  up  to  him,  and  contend  for  no  will  of  our  own. 
What  more  can  we  do  ?  But  we  do  not  give  ourselves  up 
to  him  when  we  are  dissatisfied  with  our  exercises.  Indeed, 
we  should  be  dissatisfied  when  we  live  in  known  sin,  or  are 
destitute  of  the  witness  of  the  Spirit ;  but  when  we  are  living 
for  God,  and  have  the  witness  that  we  are  his,  we  may  safely 
leave  the  rest  at  his  disposal,  without  fear  or  solicitude.  In 
this  frame  of  mind,  conviction  for  sanctification  is  not  "  a 
sense  of  condemnation,"  nor  is  it,  perhaps,  merely  "  a  sense 
of  the  importance  of  the  blessing."  It  is  the  longing  of  the 
soul  for  the  Divine  fulness,  because  the  taste  it  has  only 
sharpens  up  the  soul  for  more  of  this  divine  enjoyment ;  and 
it  is  the  loathing  of  sin,  because  the  soul  has  a  clear  view  of 
the  odious  character  of  sin,  contrasted  with  the  beauty  of 
holiness  and  the  purity  of  the  Divine  law.    If  at  any  time 


240 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


sin  gets  the  victory  over  us,  then  we  feel  a  conviction  for 
justification.  But  this  is  often  accompanied  with  a  convic- 
tion for  sanctification  of  a  deep  and  painful  character ;  and 
for  this  obvious  reason,  that  the  soul  is  now  convinced,  by 
painful  experience,  of  the  power  of  indwelling  sin,  and  of  the 
constant  danger  it  is  in  of  being  overcome  when  this  enemy 
is  lurking  within.  If  you  "  know  that  there  are  corruptions 
in  your  heart,"  watch  them  closely,  or  they  will  give  you  too 
much  feeling- ;  and  if  you  keep  them  under,  God  will  take 
care  of  the  rest.  Faith,  it  is  true,  will  not  take  hold  of  Christ 
beyond  our  conviction  of  our  wants.  This  I  hold  to  be  an 
axiom  in  Christian  experience,  but  to  the  faithful  soul  God 
will  give  this  conviction  as  he  sees  it  is  needed.  You  need 
never  fear  to  enjoy  "  small  blessings"  as  you  go  along  : 
many  get  discouraged  by  a  mistake  here.  If  Saul's  army 
had  eaten  freely  as  they  fought,  the  conquest  over  their  ene- 
mies would  have  been  greater.  Our  heavenly  Father  drops 
honey  around  us  that  we  may  eat.  He  has  never  called  us 
to  go  to  war  faint  with  fasting.  "  Eat,  drink,  O  beloved  : 
let  thy  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness."  It  is  by  this  spiritual 
nourishment  that  the  soul  grows  up  into  Christ.  If  these 
blessings  "  set  your  teeth  on  edge,"  it  may  be  for  the  reason 
that  God  cursed  the  children  of  Israel  after  answering  their 
prayer,  while  yet  the  meat  was  between  their  teeth,  because 
they  were  dissatisfied  with  his  dealings  with  them. 

"  1  "With  respect  to  your  question  whether  there  are  any 
lawful  gratifications  of  self,  the  terms  of  the  question  are  so 
indefinite  I  should  not  know  how  to  answer  it.  If  you  mean 
self  as  distinct  from  the  will  of  God  and  the  good  of  the 
world,  I  should  say  no.  But  there  are  gratifications  which 
have  an  indirect  bearing  upon  the  social  and  divine  duties, 
and  may  therefore  be  lawful  to  a  certain  extent :  such  as 
certain  bodily  exercises,  and  mental  recreations,  and  tem- 
perate indulgence  of  the  appetite,  all  of  which  are  not  direct 
acts  of  duty  to  God  or  man,  and  yet  may  be  useful.  But  as 
some  of  these,  if  indulged  in  too  frequently,  would  damp 
devotion,  and  thus  we  should  lose  more  in  soul  than  we 
should  gain  in  body  or  intellect,  therefore  it  may  be  lawful 
to  indulge  in  them  occasionally,  and  yet  not  habitually.  The 


APTNESS  AT  ILLUSTRATION.  ILLNESS. 


241 


same  may  be  said,  perhaps,  of  certain  condescensions  to  the 
habits  of  society,  which  may  seem  a  needless  tax  upon  time, 
but  which  may  be  requisite  "  to  gain  the  more."  But  in  all 
these  things  wisdom  is  profitable  to  direct,  and  he  whose 
spiritual  "  taste  can  discern  perverse  things,"  will  soon  learn 
what  food  is  injurious  to  his  spiritual  constitution.'  " 

Aptness  at  illustration  was  a  peculiar  quality  of  Dr.  Fisk's 
mind,  which  added  not  a  little  to  the  interest  and  utility  both 
of  his  preaching  and  conversation.  An  incident  illustrating 
this  trait  may  be  inserted  here  :  Mrs.  Fisk  had  been  for  some 
time  in  a  rather  desponding,  doubting  state  in  regard  to  her 
spiritual  interests.  Riding  out  one  day  with  a  very  gay 
horse,  as  they  were  about  leaving  some  friends  on  whom 
they  had  called,  the  ladies  exclaimed,  "  Mrs.  Fisk,  are  you 
not  afraid  to  ride  with  that  horse  ?"  "  O,  not  at  all  afraid," 
was  the  reply;  "  why  should  I  be  afraid  ?  Do  I  not  know 
who  holds  the  reins  ?"  "  My  dear  wife,"  said  the  doctor, 
on  driving  off,  u  do  you  know  how  beautifully  you  have  ex- 
plained faith  ?  Only  put  the  same  simple  confidence  in  the 
Saviour  that  you  do  in  me,  and  you  will  know  who  holds 
the  reins  there."    It  was  a  word  in  season. 

To  the  Rev.  Daniel  Br  ay  ton. 

"  Middletown,  December  14,  1831. 
"  I  write  from  a  sick  room.  Almost  a  fortnight  I  have 
been  confined  with  an  attack  upon  my  lungs,  accompanied 
by  fever.  I  am  now  better,  through  mercy,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  leave  my  room.  Mrs.  Fisk  has  also  been  quite  ill,  but  she 
is  improving.  My  greatest  fear  is  that  I  shall  not  profit  by 
my  affliction  as  I  should.  I  need  the  rod  ;  and  the  more 
my  worldly  cares  and  responsibilities  multiply  upon  me,  the 
more  I  find  myself  in  danger  of  being  absorbed  therein.  By 
this  means  my  mind  becomes  barren,  and  my  spiritual  fer- 
vour is  cooled.  I  am  alarmed  at  such  symptoms ;  for,  after 
all,  what  is  to  be  compared  with  communion  with  God  !  I 
know  the  leading  motive  of  my  heart  is  to  fight  sin  and  Sa- 
tan, and,  in  connexion  with  the  Church,  to  achieve  some 
decisive  victory  over  *  the  god  of  this  world,'  and  '  spiritual 
21  Hh 


242 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


wickedness  in  high  places  but  I  am  also  aware  that  much 
of  unsanctified  ambition  may  be  enlisted  even  in  this  work. 
I  hope,  however,  to  be  directed  aright,  in  motive  as  well  as 
in  act.  There  is  certainly  much  to  be  done.  When  I  look 
around  upon  the  world,  and  see  it  lying  in  the  wicked  one, 
I  feel  such  an  ardour  burning  within  me  as  I  cannot  de- 
scribe ;  I  want  to  be  divided  into  a  thousand  parts,  and  have 
a  thousand  fold  efficiency  given  to  each.  My  dear  brother, 
is  not  the  Christian  world  asleep  ?  What  unparalleled  stu- 
pidity !  Would  to  God  we  had  some  electrifying  instru- 
ment that  would  draw  from  heaven  a  portion  of  that  celes- 
tial fluid  that  fires  the  breasts  of  angels,  and  shocks  simulta- 
neously the  whole  heavenly  host  !  With  such  an  instrument, 
and  a  conductor  that  would  extend  over  the  Church,  some 
holy  zeal  might  be  communicated  to  the  Church  militant. 
Where  is  another  Franklin  that  will  draw  down  this  spirit- 
ual fire  ?  Whose  faith  will  pierce  the  clouds  to  draw  it 
down  ?  and  who  wrill  join  hand  in  hand  to  share  in  the 
shock  ?  O,  my  brother,  let  us  rally  a  company,  and  go  to 
work  as  if  we  felt,  what  is  indeed  the  fact,  that  a  world  is  at 
stake  !"    The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  torn  off. 

It  was  during  the  above-mentioned  sickness  that  Dr.  Fisk 
wrote  his  stirring  address  to  the  Methodist  Church  on  Tem- 
perance. His  mind,  in  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  a  sick 
chamber,  had  leisure  to  look  abroad  upon  the  condition  of 
the  world,  and  he  became  so  much  affected,  and  so  strongly 
desirous  of  contributing  towards  its  melioration,  that,  calling 
for  pencil  and  paper,  with  his  hat  or  a  book  for  a  desk, 
propped  up  on  one  side  with  pillows,  for  he  could  not  even 
sit  erect,  he  commenced  this  powerful  appeal.  His  physi- 
cian, finding  him  thus  employed,  said  to  him,  "  I  believe  I 
must  deny  you  the  use  of  your  pencil." 

"  I  will  put  it  up,"  was  the  calm  reply,  "  if  you  say  so, 
doctor;  but  I  have  an  important  subject — it  is  Temperance; 
and  I  think  it  will  help  your  medicine." 

However,  on  the  doctor's  reiteration  of  his  fears,  he  inter- 
mitted his  work  for  a  day  or  two,  but  completed  it  during 
his  convalescence. 


ADDRESS  ON  TEMPERANCE. 


243 


This  tract  differs  considerably  from  the  author's  usually 
calm  and  subdued  style.  It  is  ardent  and  vigorous,  amount- 
ing almost  to  the  vehement.  It  was  intended  only  for  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal ;  but  so  effective  and  appro- 
priate was  it  considered,  that  it  was  stereotyped,  and  pub- 
lished as  a  tract  by  the  Book  Concern,  and  has  received  a 
most  extensive  circulation. 

It  was  with  difficulty  Dr.  Fisk  could  reconcile  himself  to 
inactivity  when  he  saw  so  much  to  be  done  around  him. 
During  his  convalescence,  he  one  day  remarked  to  Dr.  Wood- 
ward,* "  I  have  just  been  saying  to  Mrs.  Fisk  that  she  en- 
joys my  sickness,  because  she  can  keep  me  here.  But  I  shall 
get  you,  doctor,  to  intercede  for  me." 

"I  believe, "  was  the  reply,  "I  shall  take  Mrs.  Fisk's  part; 
for  I  should  hardly  have  known  you  but  for  this  sickness. 
And  how  much  I  should  have  lost !  though  perhaps  some 
of  my  patients  may  complain  of  my  long  visits  here.  But  I 
do  fear  that  you  are  too  anxious  to  be  at  your  work ;  and  I 
shall  commission  Mrs.  Fisk  to  keep  you  here  as  long  as  she 
can." 

During  this  year,  a  paragraph  published  by  Dr.  Fisk  in  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  designed  to  excite  interest 
in  behalf  of  the  Library  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  attract- 
ed, through  the  Rev.  Jefferson  Lewis,  then  stationed  on 
Camden  Circuit,  the  attention  of  Thomas  Chapman,  Esq.,  of 
Woodbury,  New-Jersey.  This  gentleman  had  collected  a 
library  valued  at  about  seven  thousand  dollars.  He  ulti- 
mately concluded  to  transfer  to  the  Wesleyan  University 
about  two  thousand  volumes  of  standard  works,  many  of 
them  scarce  and  valuable,  between  two  and  three  hundred 
of  which  were  in  folio  or  quarto,  on  terms  so  favourable  that 
there  was  no  hesitation  about  complying  with  them.  They 
now  form  the  Chapman  Library  of  the  Wesleyan  University. 
It  is  deposited  in  alcoves,  with  space  reserved  for  additions, 

*  Dr.  Henry  Woodward,  a  gentleman  of  great  worth,  as  well  morally  and  in- 
tellectually as  professionally.  Dr.  Fisk  considered  his  skill  the  means  of  saving 
his  life.  He  ever  took  pleasure  in  cultivating  the  friendship  now  formed  between 
them.  Dr.  W.  died  a  few  years  subsequently ;  and  Dr.  Fisk  in  his  last  illness 
having  made  an  allusion  to  him,  added,  "  O,  I  shall  soon  see  him !" 


244 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


as  the  liberal  benefactor  expressly  desired  the  privilege  of 
making  subsequent  additions  to  it. 

No  man  could  form  any  conception  of  Dr.  Fisk's  labours 
and  activity  of  mind  without  a  minute  account  of  every  day's 
occupations.  And  yet  the  greater  part  of  these,  however 
important  and  useful,  were  such  as  could  not  with  propriety 
be  inserted  in  a  memoir.  Certainly  no  man  ever  lived  less 
for  himself.  The  frequent  and  often  protracted  journeys 
that  he  took,  invariably  connected  with  some  public  end  ;  his 
sermons  at  home  and  abroad  ;  public  addresses  on  a  great 
variety  of  topics,  together  with  his  writings  and  the  uninter- 
mitted  care  of  his  presidency,  so  completely  engrossed  his 
time,  that  Mrs.  Fisk  said  she  had  less  of  his  society  after 
he  became  connected  with  the  University  than  while  he  was 
presiding  elder  of  a  district.  Even  his  correspondence  was 
itself  no  little  burden.  His  easy,  accessible  manners  brought 
him  into  contact  with  so  many  persons  who  thought  they  had 
claims  upon  him,  as  laid  no  small  tax  upon  his  time,  and 
strength,  and  patience  too,  had  this  been  an  exhaustible  ele- 
ment. A  great  part  of  his  letters  were,  indeed,  on  the  busi- 
ness of  the  school  or  the  University ;  but  he  had  a  goodly 
number  besides  these,  and  some  of  them  curious  enough  : 
for  instance,  one  from  some  young  persons,  requesting  him 
to  establish  preaching  in  a  factory ;  another  from  some  phi- 
losophers in  Boston,  containing  nice  mathematical  calcula- 
tions to  prove  that  they  had  solved  that  insolvable  problem, 
the  quadrature  of  the  circle,  and  proposing  that  he  should 
go  to  Europe  to  astonish  her  savans  with  the  discovery  :  one 
was  from  a  stranger  to  him,  complimenting  him  on  his  in- 
augural address,  and  trying  to  prove  that  they  two  were  the 
only  men  in  the  country  who  knew  anything;  and, after  in- 
flicting a  letter  upon  him  of  appalling  length,  requesting  him 
to  revise  it  and  send  it  to  press !  Many  of  his  letters  are 
from  young  men  asking  advice  upon  their  conduct  in  life, 
and  some  even  in  relation  to  their  matrimonial  affairs.  This 
is  only  a  slight  specimen,  but  it  must  suffice. 


PREDESTINATION  AND  ELECTION. 


245 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Predestination  and  Election. — General  Conference  of  1832. — Incident. — Literary 
Convention. — Study  of  the  Bible  in  Colleges. — Letter  from  Rev.  Richard  Wat- 
son.— Honours  Conferred. — Correspondence. — Ecclesiastical  Union. — Address 
on  Temperance. 

Dr.  Fisk's  sermon  on  Predestination  had  now  gained  ex- 
tensive notoriety.  Numerous  testimonies  to  its  value  reach- 
ed him  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  while  the  de- 
mand for  it  had  already  produced  the  third  edition,  and  it 
was,  moreover,  about  to  be  stereotyped,  and  issued  from  the 
Book  Room  as  a  tract.  But  he  had  to  pay  the  penalty  of 
pleasing  the  believers  in  his  doctrine  by  displeasing  their  op- 
ponents. Had  this  been  confined  to  strangers,  the  trial 
would  have  been  less  painful ;  but  he  had  many  very  dear 
friends  among  the  Predestinarian  school,  and  a  severe  letter 
from  one  of  these  drew  from  him,  in  reply,  an  exposition  of 
his  views  and  motives  as  follows  : 

"  Middletown,  March  19,  1832. 

"  My  dear  , 

"  The  perusal  of  your  letter  gave  me  much  pain ;  as  much, 
probably,  as  my  sermon  gave  you.    It  afflicted  me  to  think 

I  had  grieved  my  kind  ,  and,  probably,  the  other  friends 

of  the  family;  and  it  afflicted  me  more  especially  to  be  sus- 
pected of  injuring  the  cause  of  God  ;  of  making  Christians 
mourn,  and  infidels  rejoice ;  of  wielding  carnal  weapons,  &c, 
I  have  reviewed  my  sermon,  and  re-examined  my  motives ; 
but  either  from  blindness,  or  from  a  consciousness  of  my  in- 
tegrity, I  am  not  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  charges,  nor 
can  I  with  my  present  light  plead  guilty.  As  you  do  not 
specify  the  points  in  which  I  have  erred,  I  cannot,  of  course, 
know  where  the  offence  is  :  it  is  not,  you  say,  that  I  differ 
from  you,  but  it  is  in  the  manner  of  doing  it.  In  my  argu- 
ments I  have  endeavoured  to  be  candid ;  I  thought  I  was. 
It  is  true,  I  have  tried  to  make  it  appear  from  the  Calvinistio 
21* 


246 


LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 


premises  that  certain  logical  consequences  would  of  neces- 
sity follow,  but  I  have  not  said  the  Calvinists  either  ac- 
knowledged or  believed  these  consequences  ;  and  here  is 
the  controversy  between  us :  we  infer  what  they  deny.  Look, 

my  dear  ,  again,  and  see  whether  I  do  not  charge  these 

consequences  upon  the  doctrine,  and  not  upon  the  persons 
who  hold  it ;  and  if  I  argue  upon  this  subject  at  all,  I  must 
present  these  consequences,  and  that,  too,  in  a  strong  light, 
if  I  am  able  to  do  so.  As  it  respects  Universalists  finding 
4  support  for  their  doctrine'  from  the  sermon,  this  surprises 

me.    You  know,  dear  ,  and  we  all  know,  that  Univer- 

salism  is  founded  on  Predestination :  take  that  away,  and 
Universalism  is  dead,  of  course.  If  Predestinarians  insist 
upon  their  doctrine,  and  thereby  strengthen  the  Universalist 
foundation,  this  is  not  my  fault ;  and  if  real  Christians  mourn 
because  they  cannot  hold  up  Predestination  without  seeming, 
according  to  the  showing  of  the  sermon,  to  encourage  Uni- 
versalism, neither  is  this  my  fault.  The  joy  of  the  one  and 
the  sorrow  of  the  other  do  not  prove  the  sermon  wrong,  but 
only  show  the  connexion  between  the  two  doctrines,  for 
which  the  sermon  is  not  accountable,  since  it  is  an  undeniable 
fact  that  I  could  not  preach  successfully  against  Universalism 
without  opposing  Predestination.  At  least  these  are  my 
views ;  and,  believing  thus,  shall  I  refrain  to  probe  the 
error  to  the  bottom  because  of  the  tender  feelings  of  some, 
whose  systems  may  be  affected  thereby  ?  I  can  do  anything 
to  save  the  feelings  and  affections  of  my  friends  except  to 
keep  back  what  I  conceive  to  be  God's  truth. 

"But  the  part  of  my  sermon  which  has  given  most  offence 
is  that  in  which  a  changing  of  the  argument,  and  an  appa- 
rent want  of  openness  and  sincerity,  are  attributed  to  the  Cal- 
vinists: this  you  probably  had  in  view  in  your  letter.  "When 
a  late  writer  in  the  Connecticut  Observer  attacked  me  on 
that  point,  I  replied  to  him  that  if  he  would  give  his  name, 
and  come  out  openly,  and  deny  any  or  all  of  that  paragraph, 
I  pledged  myself  to  prove  it  by  facts,  or  make  my  public 
acknowledgment.  Neither  he  nor  any  other  person  has 
presumed  to  do  it.  I  believe  them  all  to  be  truths,  and  truths, 
too,  very  capable  of  proof.    I  may  have  made  the  charge 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE  FOR  1832. 


247 


too  general ;  but  it  is  a  very  common  policy.  It  should  be 
corrected ;  it  is  not  done  in  a  corner ;  it  is  public ;  and  there 
is  no  other  way  but  to  give  it  public  reproof.  I  trust  it  was 
in  the  spirit  of  love  that  I  did  it.  And  do  I  love  my  brother 
the  less  because  I  will  not  suffer  sin  upon  him  ? 

"  With  respect  to  the  circumstances  that  called  forth  the 
sermon,  I  could  say  many  things ;  but  no  circumstances 
would  justify  me  in  doing  wrong,  or  in  wielding  unscriptural 
weapons.  The  sermon  was  preached,  it  is  true,  where  many 
things  were  done  as  they  ought  not  to  be  done ;  but  on  this 
point  I  will  add  nothing.  I  want  to  say  much  more,  but  my 
sheet  is  full.  "What  I  may  have  lost  in  your  confidence,  I 
hope  I  may  gain  in  your  prayers.    Mine  and  R.'s  love  to 

yourself,  and  to   ,  and  ,  and  all  other  friends — by 

no  means  forgetting  L  . 

"  With  undiminished  confidence  and  affection,  your  un- 
worthy W.  Fisk." 

This  letter  brought  a  reply,  couched  in  terms  of  great  af- 
fection and  respect,  and  full  of  acknowledgments  and  apolo- 
gies for  the  injustice  which  had  been  done  him.  The  affair 
passed  off  ultimately  without  any  disturbance  of  the  affec- 
tion which  had  existed  between  the  parties,  and  probably,  on 
both  sides,  with  an  increased  conviction  that  Christians  of 
opposite  opinions  can  "  agree  to  differ." 

Dr.  Fisk  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conference  which 
met  this  year  (1832)  in  Philadelphia.  While  there,  he  was, 
as  usual,  full  of  various  and  important  business.  Being  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  education,  of  which  the  la- 
mented Dr.  Emory,  at  the  same  Conference  elected  bishop, 
was  chairman,  he  wrote  the  report  on  that  branch  of  the 
work. 

He  had  also  been  appointed  at  the  New-England  Confer- 
ence of  1831,  together  with  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Scott  and  Hyde, 
to  "  draught  a  respectful  petition  to  the  next  General  Con- 
ference (i.  e.,  1832)  to  be  holden  in  Philadelphia,  setting 
forth  the  difficulties  to  which  the  cause  of  God  and  Metho- 
dism is  subjected  in  this  part  of  the  work,  in  consequence  of 
the  provisions  of  Discipline  restraining  our  people  from  build- 


248 


LIFE    OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ing  churches  with  pews,  and  praying  that  the  Discipline  may 
be  so  altered  as  to  take  off  those  restrictions,  and  leave  our 
people  at  liberty  to  consult  circumstances  and  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  community  in  respect  to  the  manner  of  building 
churches  in  different  parts  of  the  work."  The  writing  of 
this  document  devolved  upon  our  subject,  and  so  did  its 
presentation  to  the  body  to  which  it  was  addressed.  This 
was  a  very  delicate  and  exciting  topic  ;  the  New-England 
Conferences,  from  the  peculiar  state  of  the  community,  being 
as  much  in  favour  of  pews  as  the  Southern  and  Western  Con- 
ferences are  against  them.  The  former,  indeed,  had  several 
years  since  been  obliged  to  adopt  the  practice  of  pewing 
their  churches.  Much  warm  debate  was  consequently  anti- 
cipated. Hence,  as,  no  doubt,  many  will  remember,  when 
the  subject  was  once  called  up,  the  apostolic  M'Kendree, 
then  in  the  chair,  raised  his  feeble  hands,  and  in  his  gentle 
manner,  with  a  tremulous  voice,  observed,  "  Now,  breth- 
ren, the  Pew  Question  is  coming  up  :  watch  and  pray,  breth- 
ren." The  admonition  was  not  lost  upon  the  Confer- 
ence. Though  there  was  much  debate,  there  was,  gener- 
ally speaking,  a  good  spirit  prevailing.  In  one  or  two  in- 
stances only  was  this  departed  from  ;  and  as  Dr.  Fisk  was 
necessarily  prominent  in  the  business,  he  came  in  for  his  full 
share  of  animadversion  :  yet  he  never  lost  his  self-com- 
mand. Once  only  we  recollect,  when  a  younger  member 
of  the  body  dealt  out  some  rather  irritating  personalities,  we 
saw  a  sudden  movement  of  the  head,  as  though  about  to  re- 
ply ;  but,  instantly  checking  himself,  he  resumed  his  habitu- 
ally dignified  and  placid  manner.  His  calm  dignity  and  the 
meekness  of  his  demeanour  commanded  the  admiration  of 
all,  while  the  arguments  he  advanced,  as  appears  from  his 
subsequent  correspondence,  convinced  some  of  the  justice  of 
his  cause,  who,  at  the  opening  of  the  debate,  were  entirely 
prejudiced  against  it. 

These  circumstances  led  to  one  of  his  many  beautiful  and 
edifying  observations.  A  lady  who  was  present  and  saw 
the  whole  scene,  on  his  return  from  the  Conference  express- 
ed her  surprise  at  his  self-control,  and  inquired, 

"  Have  you  no  feeling,  doctor  ?" 


SELF-CONTROL.  GENTLENESS  OF  MANNER.  249 


"  Yes,  madam,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  I  have  too  much." 

"  Then,  sir,  how  did  you  command  yourself?  Will  you 
please  to  give  me  a  lesson  ?" 

"  I  can  only  point  you,"  was  his  answer,  "  I  can  only 
point  you  to  my  Master,  and  regret  that  I  follow  him  at  so 
great  a  distance." 

Could  any  response  have  indicated  greater  dignity,  mod- 
esty, and  Christian  simplicity  ? 

It  was  at  this  period  that  the  writer  of  this  memoir  may 
be  said  to  have  formed  his  first  real  acquaintance  with  him 
from  personal  observation  ;  and  well  he  remembers  how  for- 
cibly he  was  struck  with  the  lovely  features  of  his  character. 
Energetic,  yet  gentle ;  kind,  but  faithful ;  gifted,  but  unas- 
suming ;  and  popular,  yet  humble  and  retiring,  no  wonder 
that  he  was  admired  by  all  who  knew  him.  A  slight  spe- 
cimen of  his  spirit  and  manners  will  exemplify  some  of  these 
virtues.  We  remember  that  when  a  delegate,  who  was 
asked  when  he  reached  the  city,  replied,  "  On  Sabbath  morn- 
ing," how  gently  and  delicately  Dr.  Fisk  turned  to  him  and 
remarked,  "  Why,  you  broke  the  good  day,  brother,"  draw- 
ing out  the  explanation  that  the  steamboat  had  been  acci- 
dentally delayed.  And  upon  another  occasion,  when  a  lady, 
staying  at  the  same  house,  lamented  to  him  her  loss,  through 
feeble  health,  of  the  opportunity  of  hearing  the  preaching, 
he  remarked,  with  his  peculiar  simplicity,  "  Then  I  think  I 
must  give  you  a  sermon  all  to  yourself,  in  the  parlour,  to 
help  to  make  up  your  loss."  Whether  his  many  engage- 
ments permitted  it,  I  did  not  ascertain.  Need  I  apologize 
for  introducing  such  trivial  incidents  ?  I  trust  not.  Those 
who  like  to  mark  the  nicer  shades  of  character  will  appre- 
ciate their  value. 

While  he  was  thus,  by  his  gentler  virtues,  the  favourite 
of  the  social  circle,  he  possessed  those  more  commanding 
qualities  that  gain  public  confidence  and  respect.  Nor  was 
his  influence  confined  to  a  small  portion  of  society ;  it  per- 
vaded the  mass.  A  rather  striking  proof  of  this  occurred 
during  his  journey  to  the  General  Conference.  When  on 
board  a  crowded  steamboat,  the  clerk  announced  that  Dr. 
Fisk  would  perform  religious  service  before  retiring  for  the 

I  i 


250 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


night,  and  that  those  who  did  not  choose  to  participate 
might  withdraw  to  the  forward  cabin  ;  but  one  only  retired  ; 
and  all  the  rest,  with  but  few  exceptions,  after  joining  in 
a  song  of  praise,  bowed  together  before  the  throne  of  grace, 
while  commended  by  Dr.  Fisk  to  the  protection  of  Heaven. 
But  such  instances  were  by  no  means  rare.  He  frequently 
had  evening  prayers  when  travelling  by  steamboat.  This 
reminds  one  of  the  incident  between  the  late  Dr.  Livingston 
and  the  Count  Survilliers,  mentioned  in  Dr.  Gunn's  life  of 
the  former.* 

Dr.  Fisk  about  this  time  was  engaged  in  an  interesting 
discussion  on  the  introduction  of  the  Bible  as  a  text-book, 
or  classic,  into  our  institutions  of  learning.  This  subject  had 
been  proposed  at  the  Literary  Convention  in  New- York  in 
1830,  and  the  Reverend  W.  C.  Woodbridge,  Reverend  E. 
Robinson,  and  Reverend  T.  H.  Gallaudet  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  consider  the  subject,  and  report  upon  it  at  the 
next  Convention.  These  gentlemen  addressed  a  circular  to 
several  distinguished  persons,  of  whom  Dr.  Fisk  was  one, 
requesting  their  views.  To  this  paper  he  returned  an  an- 
swer arguing  in  favour  of  its  introduction. 

The  following  paper  shows  the  action  of  the  Convention 
at  its  next  meeting  in  1831 : 

"New- York,  November  5,  1831. 

"  Sir, 

"At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Literary  Convention  in  this 
city,  a  report  was  presented  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the 

*  It  is  thus  related  :  "  The  doctor  and  the  ex-king  of  *  *  *  *  *  happened  once 
to  be  fellow-passengers,  with  many  others,  on  board  one  of  the  North  River 
steamboats.  As  the  doctor  was  early  in  the  morning  walking  the  deck,  and 
gazing  at  the  refulgence  of  the  rising  sun,  which  appeared  to  him  unusually  at- 
tractive, he  passed  near  the  distinguished  stranger,  and  stopping  for  a  moment, 
accosted  him  thus  :  '  How  glorious,  sir,  is  that  object !'  pointing  gracefully  with 
his  hand  to  the  sun.  The  stranger  assenting,  he  immediately  added,  'And  how 
much  more  glorious,  sir,  must  be  its  Maker  !'  A  gentleman  who  overheard  this 
short  incidental  conversation,  being  acquainted  with  both  personages,  now  in- 
troduced them  to  each  other,  and  a  few  more  remarks  were  interchanged. 
Shortly  after,  the  doctor  again  turned  to  the  ex-king,  and  with  that  air  of  polish- 
ed complaisance  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable,  invited  him  first,  and  then  the 
rest  of  the  company,  to  attend  a  morning  prayer.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
add  that  the  invitation  was  promptly  complied  with." — Life  of  Dr.  John  H.  Liv- 
ingston, p.  499. 


THE  STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE  IN  COLLEGES. 


251 


Convention  of  1830,  on  1  the  propriety  of  studying-  the  Bible 
as  a  classic  in  the  institutions  of  a  Christian  country.'' 

"  This  topic  was  considered  as  involving  the  inquiry  wheth- 
er such  a  study  of  the  Bible  as  would  make  our  youth  famil- 
iar with  its  contents,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  with  its  litera- 
ture and  antiquities,  ought  not  to  form  a  part  of  the  studies 
of  seminaries  of  learning,  in  connexion  with,  or  in  addition 
to,  such  a  course  of  scientific,  classical,  and  religious  instruc- 
tion as  may  be  deemed  appropriate  to  the  peculiar  character 
of  each  institution. 

"  After  an  extensive  correspondence  with  gentlemen  of  va- 
rious religious  opinions,  the  committee  recommended  in 
their  report  that  the  Bible  should  receive  the  respect  and  at- 
tention due  to  a  classic  in  our  literary  institutions,  on  the 
ground  that  the  importance  of  its  subjects;  its  genuineness, 
authenticity,  and  reputation  as  a  literary  work  ;  its  unrivalled 
beauty  and  sublimity ;  its  permanent  and  universal  value ; 
its  happy  influence  on  the  intellectual  and  moral  character ; 
its  value  to  a  free  people  as  the  firmest  basis  of  free  institu- 
tions, the  only  incontrovertible  '  bill  of  rights,'  and  its  prac- 
tical usefulness  in  life,  give  it  higher  claims  to  regard  (aside 
from  all  questions  of  inspiration)  than  are  possessed  by  any 
classic  of  ancient  or  of  modern  times ;  they  believed  that  it 
could  not  be  thoroughly  taught  if  left  to  parents  or  Sunday- 
schools  ;  and  they  had  heard  of  several  instances  which 
proved  that  this  study  could  be  pursued  in  our  seminaries  of 
learning  without  exciting  sectarian  jealousy. 

"  After  hearing  the  report,  a  special  committee,  to  whom  it 
was  referred,  recommended  the  following  resolutions,  which 
were  adopted  by  the  Convention  : 

"'Resolved,  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Convention,  the  Bi- 
ble has  the  strongest  claims,  founded  on  its  literary  character, 
to  be  received  as  a  classic  ;  and  that  the  study  of  its  contents 
ought  to  form  a  part  of  common  education. 

"  1  Resolved,  that  the  literature  and  antiquities  of  the  Bible 
ought  to  constitute  a  part  of  every  course  of  liberal  education. 

"  1  Resolved,  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  and 
report  a  plan  of  Biblical  instruction,  especially  in  reference 
to  the  academical  and  collegiate  course,  and  that  Dr.  Milnor, 


252 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Dr.  Maclay,  W.  C.  Woodbridge,  Professor  Vethake,  and 
Professor  Woolsey,  constitute  the  committee.' 

"  In  compliance  with  the  last  resolution,  and  by  direction 
of  the  Convention,  the  committee  solicit  your  aid  and  coun- 
sels on  the  responsible  task  assigned  them.  The  plans  of 
Biblical  instruction  thus  far  known  to  the  committee  include 
one  or  more  of  the  following  methods  : 

"  1.  The  study  of  the  contents  of  the  Bible  in  the  English 
translation,  commencing  with  the  historical  portions,  and  sup- 
plying the  interval  between  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
from  secular  history,  and  terminating  with  the  poetical  and 
prophetical  books. 

"  2.  The  study  of  the  Greek  Testament  in  addition  to  this, 
with  the  same  view,  after  the  student  is  familiar  with  the 
Greek  language. 

"3.  A  course  of  instruction  in  the  literature  and  antiqui- 
ties of  the  Bible,  following  or  connected  with  these  studies, 
comprising  an  account  of  the  origin,  history,  transmission, 
and  translation  of  its  respective  books  ;  of  its  chronology, 
style,  and  imagery ;  and  of  the  Oriental  manners  and  customs 
to  which  it  alludes. 

M  4.  The  study  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures. 

"5.  The  general  principles  of  interpretation,  which  some 
deem  important,  not  only  in  reference  to  Biblical,  but  also  to 
classical  studies. 

"  The  committee  respectfully  request  your  opinion,  so  soon 
as  your  convenience  may  admit,  as  to  the  extent  to  which 
these,  or  any  other  methods  of  Biblical  instruction  should  be 
adopted  in  our  literary  institutions,  at  what  periods  they 
should  commence,  and  in  what  manner  they  should  be  con- 
ducted. 

"  They  would  also  be  gratified  by  an  account  of  any 
course  of  this  kind  which  may  have  been  heretofore  pursued 
in  your  institution  or  within  your  knowledge,  of  the  difficul- 
ties which  may  have  been  encountered,  and  of  the  results 
which  have  appeared,  if  not  already  communicated  to  the 
former  committee. 

"  The  information  which  may  be  obtained  is  designed  to 
be  presented  to  the  Literary  Convention  in  October  next. 


STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE  IN  COLLEGES. 


253 


"  The  answer  may  be  forwarded  to  the  chairman  of  the 
committee,  or  to  any  one  of  its  members,  as  may  be  most 
convenient.  On  behalf  of  the  committee." 

"Rev.  Dr.  Fisk,  President  of  the  Wesley  an  University. 

"  Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

"  You  will  doubtless  remember  the  appointment  of  the  com- 
mittee who  have  prepared  the  above  circular,  and  who  would 
have  transmitted  it  to  the  colleges  long  since  had  not  some 
delay  taken  place  in  New- York  on  the  part  of  the  publish- 
ing committee,  in  whose  hands  the  business  of  lithographing 
this  circular  was  left.  When  that  committee,  first  mention- 
ed, met,  consisting  of  Dr.  Milnor,  Dr.  Maclay,  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge,  and  myself,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  request 
you,  sir,  to  act  as  a  member  of  the  committee ;  and  I  was 
ordered  to  transmit  that  request  as  soon  as  I  should  have  re- 
ceived the  circulars.  Now  it  is  only  within  a  short  time  that 
I  have  received  them,  and  I  therefore  take  this  opportunity 
of  sending  to  you  a  number,  with  the  hope  that  you  will  hon- 
our the  committee  by  participating  in  its  labours.  What  is 
to  be  done  is  briefly  this :  certain  colleges  and  certain  indi- 
viduals of  standing  were  assigned  to  each  committee-man, 
to  whom  circulars  were  to  be  sent,  with  such  remarks  sub- 
joined as  might  seem  best.  You,  sir,  were  requested  to  take 
upon  you  the  Methodist  colleges  and  higher  public  semina- 
ries, and  the  principal  individuals  of  that  denomination,  as 
the  committee  thought  that  you  could  obtain  from  them  a 
more  free  and  informal  expression  of  views  than  one  less  ac- 
quainted with  them.  From  the  interest  which  you  took  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  and  in  this  measure  espe- 
cially, the  committee  were  led  to  believe  that  you  would  not 
consider  the  transmission  of  a  few  such  circulars  a  burden. 
"  I  am,  sir,  respectfully  yours, 

"  Theodore  D.  WooLSEV.', 

In  consequence  of  this  application,  Dr.  Fisk  addressed 
letters  to  several  distinguished  ministers  of  our  own  denom- 
ination, from  whom  he  received  answers  more  or  less  ex- 
tended.   From  Professor  Caldwell,  of  Dickinson  College, 
22 


254 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


at  that  time  principal  of  Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary,  he  re- 
ceived a  valuable  letter  approving  of  the  measure,  but  ad- 
vocating the  method  of  instruction  by  lectures  rather  than 
recitations,  as  more  accordant  with  the  nature  of  the  subject, 
and  less  liable  to  degrade  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the  level 
of  a  mere  human  production.  The  idea  is  well  worth  atten- 
tion. From  the  Rev.  Richard  Watson  he  received  a  com- 
munication which  will  be  read  with  interest  by  all  the  ad- 
mirers of  that  truly  great  and  good  man.  Dr.  Fisk,  it  will 
be  perceived,  had  also  suggested  to  him  the  preparation  of  a 
work  on  Christian  Ethics. 

"London,  October  19,  1832. 

■  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  obliging  communications,  both  of 
which  have  interested  me  greatly  ;  and  especially  as  thev 
indicate  the  amazing  advantages  to  be  derived  to  a  country 
when  those  who  are  concerned  most  deeply  and  profession- 
ally with  the  education  of  its  youth  are  aware  of  the  su- 
preme importance  of  revealed  truth,  and  feel  how  necessary 
it  is  to  have  that  '  glory'  upon  all  learning  1  as  a  defence.' 
This  is  infinitely  more  important  as  the  result  of  conviction 
and  experience,  than  as  enforced  and  bound  by  articles  of 
faith,  subscriptions,  and  the  appropriation  of  college  honours 
and  ecclesiastical  prospects  to  a  cold  and  nominal  orthodoxy. 

"  I  feel  with  you,  that  a  work  on  Morals  and  their  philos- 
ophy, constructed  on  sound  principles,  and  pursued  under 
the  guidance  of  Holy  Writ,  would  be  a  most  valuable  acqui- 
sition to  general  literature  as  well  as  to  a  collegiate  course. 
For  myself,  however,  I  do  not  feel  adequate  to  the  task, 
and  think  I  could  not,  were  I  disengaged,  satisfy  myself  to 
go  out  to  the  world  at  large  ;  although,  were  I  a  lecturer  on 
Moral  Philosophy,  I  should  certainly  form  my  course  on  this 
plan,  with  the  full  conviction  that  I  should  find  more  true 
philosophy  in  it,  as  well  as  more  influential  authority.  This, 
however,  is  decisive  as  to  myself,  were  I  to  be  encouraged 
to  the  work  by  your  too  flattering  and  kind  estimate  of  my 
fitness,  that  I  am  engaged  in  a  large  and  important  underta- 
king, which  occupies  all  my  leisure  from  regular  duties. 


LETTER  FROM  REV.  R.  WATSON. 


255 


Let  me  therefore,  in  turn,  commend  the  enterprise  to  you, 
who,  from  all  I  have  heard,  and  from  the  publications  of 
yours  I  have  seen,  have  both  principles,  and  a  reach  of 
thought,  and  a  philosophic  habit  highly  adapted  to  it.  I 
speak  from  conviction,  in  the  same  Christian  sincerity  in 
which  you  have  addressed  me  ;  and  I  really  think  you  could 
not  bestow  a  better  gift  on  the  highly-important  institution 
over  which  you  preside. 

"  On  the  other  plan.  That  the  literature  of  the  Scriptures 
ought  to  be,  in  various  degrees,  according  to  the  future  pro- 
fession of  the  students,  taught  in  all  Christian  colleges,  seems 
a  proposition  so  obviously  grounded  upon  fitness,  and  pro- 
priety, and  duty,  that  the  wonder  is,  that,  in  a  course  of  ed- 
ucation, the  Bible  has  been,  both  by  us,  and  you  too,  I  pre- 
sume, forgotten  in  colleges,  or  very  slightly  elucidated.  The 
sketch  contained  in  the  circular  appears  judicious  and  com- 
prehensive ;  but  I  hesitate  as  to  the  way  the  matter  is  put. 
The  Bible  ought  to  be  studied  as  an  ancient  classic — this 
is  the  ground. 

"  Now,  though  I  grant  that  if  it  had  fared  as  well  among 
critics  as  a  Greek  or  Roman  classic,  we  should  not  have  had 
so  much  licentiousness  of  criticism,  such  unscholar-like  doings 
with  its  text  and  its  interpretation ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand, 
a  formal  investment  of  the  Scriptures  with  this  human  garb 
may  court  liberties  which  ought  not  to  be  tolerated.  In  some 
respects,  it  is  true  that  the  literature  of  the  Bible  assimilates 
with  the  ancient  compositions  of  human  genius  ;  but  my  no- 
tion is,  that  it  is,  in  the  main,  sui  generis  throughout  in  its 
literature  as  well  as  theology.  Let  this  be  guarded,  and  a 
Biblical  course,  even  when  not  pursued  into  the  criticalities 
of  the  original  tongues  (those  being  reserved  for  ministers), 
would  be  a  high  improvement  in  your  academical  courses. 
Here  is  the  Book  of  God,  full  of  various  learning  :  come,  let 
us  study  it  as  such,  and  in  its  style,  history,  poetry,  prophe- 
cy, doctrine,  morals,  &c,  in  all  hear  what  God  the  Lord 
will  speak,  and  how  he  speaks.  This  is  the  true  ground  to 
be  kept  in  the  question,  as  I  conceive. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  sir, 

"Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"R,  Watson." 


256 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


About  this  time  Dr.  Fisk  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Ruter, 
president  of  Augusta  College,  asking  his  views  on  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Bible  as  a  study  into  institutions  of  learning, 
and  wrote  in  return  an  extended  reply  ;  but,  as  this  will 
probably  be  given  to  the  world  in  another  form,  we  need 
say  no  more  of  it  here. 

Unaffected  modesty  and  humility  were  among  the  most 
shining  of  our  subject's  virtues.  He  never  seemed  conscious 
of  his  own  position  in  the  public  eye.  He  neither  affected 
to  undervalue  the  marks  of  respect  which  he  received,  nor 
did  he  ever  betray  the  least  elation  on  their  account.  Many 
of  them  his  friends  would  hardly  have  known  but  by  their 
appearance  in  the  public  papers  :  yet  they  were  conferred 
perpetually.  We  say  nothing  now  of  the  great  demand  in 
which  his  services  were  held  in  his  own  denomination,  nor 
of  the  letters  of  thanks  he  received  for  sermons,  lectures, 
addresses,  and  the  like,  always  couched  in  terms  of  highest 
eulogy,  and  generally  containing  assurances  of  the  happiest 
results.  Besides  these,  he  received  such  tokens  of  esteem 
as  are  usually  conferred  on  the  most  distinguished  in  the 
land.  This  year  alone  he  received  several.  He  wras  ap- 
pointed by  General  Cass,  secretary  of  Avar,  one  of  the  visit- 
ers of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point: 
he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  richly  endowed  Col- 
lege of  Louisiana,  and  received  high  inducements  to  accept 
the  place,  besides  the  offer  of  three  thousand  dollars  per 
annum  ;  and  in  1835  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Rhode 
Island  Alpha  of  the  Phi-Beta-Kappa  Society.  But  in  the 
midst  of  all  he  maintained  the  same  uniform  simplicity,  hum- 
ble piety,  and  steady  devotion  that  had  marked  his  charac- 
ter when  labouring  in  the  humble  sphere  of  an  itinerant  min- 
ister among  the  mountains  of  his  native  state.  When  he 
read  or  heard  any  favourable  notice  of  himself  in  the  public 
prints,  he  would  generally  remark,  and  often  with  a  sigh, 
"They  do  not  know  me  as  I  know  myself." 

How  jealous  he  was  of  his  own  motives  will  be  seen  from 
a  passage  in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  written  in  Boston  in  the 
winter  of  1832,  while  on  one  of  his  begging  excursions. 
After  speaking  of  his  suffering  from  the  intense  cold  of  the 
season,  he  proceeds  :  "  I  seem  never  to  arrive  at  that  period 


LETTER  TO  HIS  MOTHER. 


257 


when  I  can  favour  myself.  One  enterprise  after  another 
comes  upon  me,  and  drives  me  to  the  work.  And  perhaps 
this  is  right ;  I  might  otherwise  be  indolent ;  but  as  it  is,  I 
find  no  time  for  idleness.  And  yet  I  often  ask  myself 
whether  I  am  indeed  labouring  for  God.  You  know  there 
is  a  great  share  of  ambition  in  my  constitution,  and  this  may 
be  one  of  the  inciting  motives  to  action.  When  I  consider 
in  how  many  respects  I  am  not  what  I  should  be,  I  am  led 
to  distrust  my  own  motives  in  this  ever-toiling  life  in  which 
I  am  engaged.  O,  if  I  should  fail  of  my  reward  at  last  by 
reason  of  a  selfish  heart  and  an  unsanctified  mind,  what  a 
disappointment !  what  a  loss  !  My  dear  wife,  pray  for  me  ; 
not  so  much  for  my  bodily  health,  as  that  I  may  glorify  God 
in  my  body  and  spirit,  which  are  his." 

We  shall  now  lay  before  our  readers  passages  from  some 
interesting  letters  written  about  this  period. 

To  the  Reverend  O.  C.  Baker. 

"Iam  sorry  to  hear  of  your  affliction  in  the  loss  of  your 
mother,  and  I  sympathize  also  with  your  surviving  parent. 
But  you  both  know  where  to  go  for  comfort.  O,  who  can 
lament  that  the  one  he  loves  has  gone  to  heaven  !  Should 
we  not  rejoice,  rather  than  grieve,  that  the  object  of  our  af- 
fections has  anticipated  us,  and  gained  the  crown  first  ?  Let 
them  go,  and  we  will  follow.  Heaven  is  a  place  good 
enough  for  your  dear  mother,  but  your  heavenly  Father  saw 
that  this  earth  was  not." 

On  the  occurrence  of  a  severe  accident  to  his  aged  moth- 
er, he  wrote,  January  3d  : 

*  *  *  "  I  learn  that  you  have  had  an  additional  visitation 
of  Providence  by  a  fall,  dislocation,  and  a  consequent  lame- 
ness. Truly,  my  dear  mother,  you  are  afflicted  in  your  de- 
clining years.  I  sincerely  and  deeply  sympathize  with  you, 
and  gladly  would  I  afford  you  any  succour  and  comfort  in 
these  visitations  ;  but  I  am  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  af- 
fording you  any  personal  aid  or  comfort  by  the  distance 
which  separates  us.  Daily,  however,  do  I  remember  you  in 
my  feeble  prayers,  together  with  all  others  in  the  family.  I 
22*  '  J  Kk 


258 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


desire  most  ardently  that  the  remainder  of  your  days  may  be 
spent  in  peace  and  quiet.  *  *  #  It  is,  in  truth,  one  of  the 
strongest  desires  of  my  heart  to  have  everything  done  that 
can  be  done  to  render  the  few  remaining  days  of  my  parents 
as  pleasant  as  possible.  For  this  I  would  be  willing  to  suffer 
and  labour."  *  #  * 

"  We  have  just  been  called  to  bury  one  of  our  professors, 
Reverend  John  JVI.  Smith.*  He  died  very  suddenly  of  in- 
flammation of  the  lungs,  but  has  undoubtedly  gone  to  rest. 
His  soul  was  happy  in  God,  and  he  rejoiced  with  unspeak- 
able joy.   I  feel  it  to  be  a  loud  call  to  me  to  be  also  ready." 

To  a  Lady  on  Infant  Baptism. 

"  Middletown,  February  27,  1833. 

"  My  dear  Sister, 

11 1  am  sorry  to  learn  that  your  mind  has  been  brought 
into  trials  from  any  cause,  and  especially  from  the  one  men- 
tioned in  your  letter.  I  should  be  glad  were  it  in  my  pow- 
er to  say  something  that  would  afford  you  any  relief,  but  I 
can  hardly  expect  it  for  two  reasons  :  1.  Because,  in  the 
short  compass  of  a  sheet,  I  could  not  even  begin  to  enter 
into  the  arguments  on  this  subject.  2.  Because,  from  the 
experience  I  have  had,  I  believe  there  is  hardly  any  point  to 
which  the  minds  of  persons  who  once  get  an  idea  that  they 
must  be  rebaptized,  adhere  so  pertinaciously  as  to  this,  I 
have  not  the  least  doubt  but  the  enemy  of  souls  takes  this 
method  often  to  harass  and  afflict  God's  people,  and  keep 
them  back  from  more  important  duties.  I  have  known  num- 
bers who,  by  their  own  acknowledgment,  had  never  been 
i  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,'  by  which  I  un- 
derstand the  blessing  of  sanctification,  but  who,  nevertheless, 
had  no  particular  exercises  of  mind  about  this,  and  yet  the 
Spirit  of  God,  as  they  say,  would  give  them  no  rest  on  the 
subject  of  water  baptism  !  But  is  it  true  that  the  Divine  Spir- 
it is  more  anxious  that  we  should  be  baptized  with  water 
than  with  fire  ?  And  is  it  well  pleasing  to  God  that  we  are 
exercised,  and  afflicted,  and  pained  about  the  former,  when  we 

*  Professor  John  M.  Smith  was  an  amiable,  pious  man,  and  an  agreeable 
companion.  His  talents  would  no  doubt  have  raised  him  to  great  eminence  in 
his  profession,  had  his  life  been  spared.  He  still  lives  in  the  warm  affections  of 
all  who  knew  him.    He  filled  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages. 


LETTER  ON  INFANT  BAPTISM. 


259 


are  at  ease  about  the  latter  ?  My  dear  sister,  do  you  enjoy 
the  blessing  of  perfect  love  ?  If  not,  do  you  think  it  attain- 
able ?  If  so,  would  it  not  be  wise  to  let  this  subject  engross 
your  soul  wholly  until  you  obtain  the  blessing  ?  Do  not 
misunderstand  me :  I  do  not  think  you  would  mean  to  be 
obstinate,  but  I  mean  to  say,  that  the  subject  is  one  well 
suited  to  be  used  by  our  arch  enemy  to  injure  our  peace.  I 
know  what  it  is ;  I  have  been  through  it  all :  I  was  once,  on 
this  question,  a  strong  Baptist,  but  I  have  been  convinced  that 
I  was  in  an  error.  I  can  therefore  sympathize  with  you. 
But  I  do  not  believe  it  is  well  pleasing  to  God  that  you 
should  afflict  your  soul  on  this  question,  whereas  I  have  no 
doubt  it  is  well  pleasing  to  Satan  ;  for  thereby  you  are  kept 
from  enjoyment,  from  a  growth  in  grace,  and  from  usefulness. 

"  You  ask  for  the  Scripture  warrant  for  baptizing  infants. 
My  reply  must  be  short :  I  can  only  touch  upon  a  few  points. 
For  a  fuller  discussion  of  this  subject,  I  would  refer  you  to 
an  essay  in  a  volume  published  at  our  Book  Room,  called 
<  Doctrinal  Tracts.' 

"  But,  to  say  a  word  by  way  of  argument,  Do  you  believe 
God  has  always  had  a  Church  in  the  world  ?  Do  you  be- 
lieve the  Jews  were  his  visible  Church  ?  Do  you  believe  the 
Christian  Church  was  but  the  continuation  of  the  Church  of 
God,  with  increased  light  and  privileges  ?  Were  infants 
entitled  to  the  seal  of  the  covenant  of  faith  in  the  Church 
of  God  before  Christ  ?  Is  not  this  indisputable  ?  The  ques- 
tion should  not  be,  then,  whether  they  have  any  new  grant 
to  this  privilege  under  the  Gospel  dispensation,  but  whether 
the  old  grant  has  been  revoked.  This  turns  the  tables  alto- 
gether. The  Baptists  ask  us  to  show  the  New  Testament 
authority ;  we  ask  them  to  show  us  the  New  Testament  pro- 
hibition. God's  charters  never  become  obsolete  unless  he 
revokes  them.  One  enactment  of  Jehovah  is  enough  to  the 
end  of  time.  It  is  true,  he  revoked  the  burdensome  ritual  of 
his  Old  Testament  Church,  i  which  neither  they  nor  their  fa- 
thers were  able  to  bear ;'  but  where  is  it  said  that  he  took 
away  or  circumscribed  any  of  the  privileges  of  his  ancient 
Church  ?  Could  the  Jew  bring  his  child  with  him  to  share 
in  the  seal  of  God's  covenant  of  grace,  the  blessings  of 
which  were  received  by  faith  (Rom.,  iv.,  11),  and  shall  I,  un- 


260 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


der  a  dispensation  of  enlarged  privileges,  be  denied  that  fa- 
vour ?  And  by  what  authority  ?  God  has  changed  the  seal 
from  circumcision  to  baptism.  This  none  will  deny,  because 
all  believe  the  former  to  be  the  seal  under  the  Old  Testa- 
ment dispensation,  and  all  believe  the  latter  to  be  the  seal 
under  the  New  Testament  dispensation.  The  seal  is  chan- 
ged, then,  but  is  the  subject  ?  What  an  opportunity  to  let  that 
be  known,  if  it  were  so,  when  the  seal  was  changed  !  When 
Christ  said  to  his  apostles,  '  Go  disciple  all  nations'  (for  so  it 
reads  in  the  original),  '  baptizing  them,  &c.,'  he  ought  to 
have  added,  to  prevent  mistakes,  1  but  not  their  children  ; 
hereafter  they  are  not  to  be  admitted  to  the  seal  of  my  visible 
Church.'  Instead  of  this,  however,  the  apostles  went  forth, 
and,  as  if  they  meant  to  renew  the  former  privilege,  they  say, 
at  the  very  first  sermon  after  Christ's  ascension,  '  Repent  and 
be  baptized,  &c,  for  the  promise  is  to  you  and  your  children,1 
&c— See  Acts,  ii.,  38,  39. 

u  Does  this  look  like  revoking  the  former  grant  ?  The 
apostles  did  not  so  understand  it ;  and  this  is  the  reason, 
doubtless,  why  their  immediate  successors  practised  infant 
baptism  as  a  rite,  which,  had  they  not  received  it  from  the 
apostles  themselves,  and  had  it  not  been  well  understood  to 
have  apostolic  authority,  would  not  have  been  introduced 
immediately,  or,  if  introduced,  not  without  some  opposition 
and  dissension.  But  of  such  an  opposition  to  infant  baptism 
there  is  not  the  least  vestige  on  record  ;  on  the  contrary,  all 
speak  of  it  at  that  early  period  as  a  thing  of  course. 

"  Again  :  Infants  ought  to  be  admitted  to  baptism,  because 
they  are  proper  subjects  of  the  ordinance.  Our  Saviour  him- 
self has  decided  this  question  :  '  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.'  Are  all  justified  persons  fit  subjects  of  the  seal? 
Infants  are  justified  (Romans,  v.,  18).  But  you  say,  per- 
haps they  will  grow  up  wicked  :  not  always.  If  infants  and 
children  were  taken  care  of  by  the  Church  as  they  should 
be,  I  doubt  whether  there  would  be  so  many  ungodly  chil- 
dren raised  up  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church.  The  Church 
obligate  themselves,  by  the  sacred  rites  of  baptism,  to  train 
up  these  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 
If  they  fail  of  this,  let  not  the  ordinance  of  God  be  blamed. 


LETTER  ON  INFANT  BAPTISM. 


261 


Besides,  adult  believers  may  apostatize.  Would  you  bap- 
tize a  backslider  again  who  had  once  been  a  church  mem- 
ber, but  apostatized  and  lost  his  justification,  and  was  after- 
ward reclaimed  ? 

"  Why,  then,  rebaptize  a  child  who  had  lost  his  early  jus- 
tification, when  1  he  was  of  the  kingdom  of  God,'  but  is  af- 
terward restored  ?  Do  you  say  the  apostles  taught  to  believe 
and  be  baptized  ?  This  was  when  they  went  out  to  '  disci- 
ple' those  families  and  communities  which  were  not  disci- 
ples before.  So  we  should  preach  now,  when  we  go  to  pa- 
gans or  Jews,  or  even  adult  citizens  of  a  Christian  commu- 
nity who  have  not  been  baptized.  So  Abraham  was  required 
to  believe,  and  circumcision  was  given  him  as  a  seal  of  the 
1  righteousness  he  had  by  faith  ;'  and  yet  it  extended  to  his 
children.  Will  you  ask,  as  the  Baptists  often  do,  What  ad- 
vantage is  it  to  the  child  ?  I  might  answer  by  asking,  What 
advantage  is  baptism  to  the  adult  ?  What  advantage  was 
circumcision  to  the  child  anciently  ?  And,  though  this  would 
be  an  all-sufficient  answer,  I  will  say  it  is  of  much  advantage 
if  properly  attended  to ;  more,  if  possible,  to  the  child  even 
than  to  the  adult.  It  throws  an  obligation  on  the  child,  into 
the  nature  of  which  he  should  be  early  instructed ;  and  it 
throws  an  obligation  upon  the  parent  and  upon  the  Church 
as  solemn  as  the  oath  of  God.  And  if  the  Church  has  not 
felt  this,  blame  not  the  ordinance  or  Him  who  instituted  it, 
but  let  the  blame  fall  where  it  belongs. 

"  Dear  sister,  be  pleased  to  weigh  these  considerations ; 
and  if  your  difficulties  continue,  write  again,  and  tell  me 
wherein ;  and  if  they  are  removed,  inform  me.  I  shall  re- 
joice in  having  been  able  to  throw  any  light  on  your  mind.', 

There  is  a  certain  spurious  benevolence  in  the  world,  that 
expends  itself  on  distant  objects,  and  overlooks  the  more 
familiar.  And,  indeed,  there  is  always  danger  lest  those  en- 
gaged in  the  higher  and  wider  spheres  of  usefulness  should 
content  themselves  with  the  general  benevolence  of  their 
aims,  while  they  come  not  down  to  the  humbler  objects  of 
every-day  life.  The  danger  is  lest  they  substitute  some  self- 
ish motive  in  place  of  true  philanthropy,  which,  like  the  char- 


262 


LIFE   OF  WILLEUR  FISK. 


ity  of  Heaven,  remits  not  its  care  for  individuals  in  its  con- 
cern for  the  species.  Such  was  not  the  case  with  our  sub- 
ject. While  at  the  head  of  many  important  enterprises,  he 
never  overlooked  the  claims  of  ordinary  life.  His  charities 
were  warm  and  active,  and  were  dispensed  as  freely  upon 
the  nearest  objects  as  upon  the  most  remote.  His  benevo- 
lence never  waited  for  a  splendid  occasion,  nor  stopped  to 
consider  the  chances  of  notoriety.  The  following  letters 
help  to  confirm  these  observations.  The  first,  addressed  to 
a  valued  relative,  was  written  at  the  same  time  with  the 
foregoing  letter  to  his  mother  : 

"  I  am  happy  to  learn  that  the  good  work  of  reformation 
is  going  on  with  you,  and  should  be  pleased  to  share  in  it, 
and  make  one  in  your  interesting  religious  meetings,  if  cir- 
cumstances would  permit.  May  the  work  continue  to  spread 
until  1  all  the  proud,  and  they  that  do  wickedly,'  and  all  the 
unsound  professors, *  shall  be  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  cross. 
It  is  well  that  the  hollow-hearted  and  formal  professor  should 
look  about  himself  and  tremble  ;  for  many,  doubtless,  are 
dreaming  of  heaven  who  will  never  get  there.  I  am  sorry, 
however,  that  C.  K.  should  suffer  Satan  to  alarm  and  dis- 
courage his  soul.  It  is  all  a  temptation,  I  have  no  doubt.  I 
have  the  fullest  confidence  in  his  piety.  I  know,  however, 
that  my  confidence  will  not  satisfy  him.  He  must  feel  it 
for  himself,  and  '  then  shall  he  have  rejoicing  in  himself 
alone,  and  not  in  another.'  Had  I  the  privilege,  however,  I 
would  say  some  things  to  him  which  perhaps  might,  by 
God's  blessing^do  him  good.  I  would,  in  the  first  place,  ad- 
vise him  not  to  make  the  apparent  exercises  of  others  any 
criterion  for  himself;  and,  in  the  second  place>  I  would  spe- 
cially exhort  him  and  strongly  advise  him  not  to  spend  much 
time  or  suffer  much  anxiety  about  the  past.  An  old  hope 
would  be  worth  but  little  if  he  could  find  it,  provided  he 
had  not  now  a  living  hope  of  a  heavenly  inheritance.  And 
all  that  is  necessary  for  a  present  hope  is  a  present  faith. 
One  of  the  greatest  excellences  of  the  Christian  system  is, 
that  it  admits  of  our  coming  to  Christ  now,  as  we  are,  no 
*  Alluding  to  an  expression  in  his  correspondent's  letter. 


LETTER  TO  AN  AFFLICTED  FRIEND. 


263 


matter  what  we  have  been  or  what  we  are :  there  is  enough 
in  Christ  now  to  meet  our  case.  Is  not  this  true  ?  Is  it  not 
Gospel  ?  Why,  then,  should  any  doubt  ?  C.  K.  will  not, 
cannot  doubt,  when  he  takes  this  view  of  the  subject.  May 
God  cheer  his  heart  with  the  new  wine  of  the  kingdom." 

On  learning  that  this  message  of  love  had  not  produced 
the  desired  result,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  wife  of  this 
afflicted  person,  accompanied  by  one  for  himself.  We  in- 
sert them  both : 

"  March  22,  1833. 

"  Dear  C  M  , 

"  Deeply  do  I  sympathize  with  you  and  your  afflicted  hus- 
band, but  not  without  hope.  I  cannot  but  believe  that  God 
will  appear  for  your  deliverance.  I  have  written  what  I 
could  to  meet  his  case  ;  perhaps  God  may  bless  some  word 
to  the  good  of  his  soul.  Pray  and  believe :  let  not  any 
forebodings  of  the  future  prey  upon  you.  Our  Deliverer  is 
mighty,  and  we  shall  triumph.  Perhaps  by  this  trial  you 
will  be  able  to  say,  more  than  ever,  '  My  soul  is  even  as  a 
weaned  child.'  This  affliction  may  be  working  out  for  you 
all '  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.'  Mrs. 
Fisk  joins  with  me  in  love  to  you  and  your  dear  mother, 
and  in  tender  sympathy  and  condolence  with  your  afflicted 
husband.  May  God  bless  you  all,  and  after  that  you  have 
suffered  a  while,  make  you  perfect,  '  establish,  strengthen, 
settle  you.' 

"  Most  affectionately,  your  sympathizing  kinsman,  friend, 
and  brother  in  Christ,  s  W.  Fisk." 

"  Middletown,  March  22,  1833. 

"  My  dear  Friend  and  Brother, 

"  I  heard  by  cousins  C.  and  L.  Fisk  that  the  adversary  of 
God  and  man  was  sorely  tempting  you  with  gloom  and  de- 
spondency respecting  your  spiritual  state  and  future  pros- 
pects. This  induced  me  to  indite  a  few  lines  to  you  in  a 
former  letter.  Since  that,  I  received  a  letter  from  cousin  u., 
in  which  he  spoke  of  having  received  letters  from  B.,  and 
that  all  was  well,  &c,  from  which  I  inferred  that  the  power 


264 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


of  the  tempter  was  broken.  I  am  sorry,  however,  to  learn 
that  this  was  incorrect,  and  that  you  are  still  in  a  state  of 
despondency.  Now,  for  myself,  I  have  no  doubt  that  this 
is  nothing  more  or  less  than  the  temptation  of  the  devil, 
strengthened,  perhaps,  by  indisposition  and  bodily  debility ; 
yet  I  have  seen  so  many  such  cases,  I  almost  despair  of  con- 
vincing you  of  this.  I  know,  when  unbelief  gets  hold  of  the 
mind,  it  leads  it  to  be  skilful  in  turning  everything  against 
itself,  and  causes  its  afflicted  victim  to  dash  from  his  lips  the 
cup  of  salvation,  though  pressed  upon  him  by  the  hand  of 
Divine  mercy.  However,  I  will  not  despair.  God  hath 
sent  me  '  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  and  to  proclaim 
liberty  to  the  captive,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  doors 
to  them  that  are  bound.'  Come,  then,  my  afflicted  brother, 
gird  up  the  loins  of  thy  mind,  and  let  us  reason  together. 
I  come  to  plead  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  merits  of  his  blood, 
the  efficacy  of  his  grace  :  and  what  have  you  to  object  to 
these  merits  and  this  grace  ?  1  Nothing,'  perhaps  you  say ; 
1  but  I  am  a  wretched  sinner  ;  I  have  deceived  myself,  and 
shut  myself  out  of  the  mercy  of  God.'  Before  I  reply  to 
this,  permit  me  to  premise  one  thing,  viz.,  I  have  nothing  to 
do,  and  you  need  have  nothing  to  do,  with  the  question, 
{  Have  I  ever  been  converted  ?'  This  I  know  not,  though  I 
most  sincerely  believe  you  have.  But  suppose  the  worst ; 
suppose  you  have  deceived  yourself,  and  others  have  been 
deceived  in  you,  still  what  I  wish  to  say,  and  what  I  am 
prepared  to  maintain  by  the  word  of  God,  is,  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  a  Saviour  exactly  suited  to  your  present  state  and 
character.  You  may  say,  perhaps,  that  1  I  know  not  your 
heart ;  that  you  are  a  great  sinner,'  &c.  All  this  may  be ; 
and  yet  I  know,  were  you  ten  times  as  great  a  sinner  as 
even  you  think  yourself  to  be,  Jesus  Christ  is  a  greater  Sav- 
iour, and  his  grace  is  sufficient  for  you.  You  may  say,  per- 
haps, that  you  have  the  fullest  conviction  that  you  are  lost, 
and  there  is  no  mercy  for  you.  I  reply,  I  have  the  fullest 
conviction  that  you  are  not,  and  that  Heaven  is  full  of  mercy 
for  you.  But  you  say,  I  do  not  know  your  case  as  well  as 
you  know  it.  It  may  be  so ;  but  I  know  something  of  the 
Gospel ;  I  know  something  of  the  ricnes  of  Divine  grace, 


LETTER  TO  ONE  IN  AFFLICTION. 


265 


something  of  the  love  of  Christ ;  I  know  that  1  this  is  a  faith- 
ful saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  the  chief  of  sinners.1  Do  you 
stop  to  inquire  whether  God  will  permit  you  to  believe  in  j 
Christ  as  a  privilege  ?  Why,  my  dear  sir,  he  commands  you 
to  believe  in  him  as  a  duty.  Have  you  a  case  too  hard  for 
our  Almighty  Jesus  ?  Do  you  challenge  the  power  of  Divine 
grace  ?  Does  your  case  set  at  defiance  the  omnipotence  of 
Divine  love  ?  Read  Ephesians,  iii.,  14  to  21,  and  when  you 
come  to  the  20th  verse,  read  it  over  and  over,  and  tell  me,  if 
you  can,  what  this  expression  meaneth,  '  according  to  the 
power  that  worketh  in  us  /'  O,  what  a  power  is  this  !  Why, 
God  can  break  the  jaws  of  the  lion,  and  take  the  prey  from 
the  mighty.  In  view  of  such  a  wonder-working  God,  shall 
we  talk  about  the  difficulty  of  our  case  ?  Shall  it  be  known 
in  the  universe  of  God  that  there  is  one  poor  miserable 
wretch  that  was  bought  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  lived 
under  the  sound  of  the  Gospel,  and  desired  salvation,  and 
was  ready  to  sacrifice  everything  for  it,  but  he  could  not 
obtain  it  ?  Such  a  fact  would  fill  hell  with  shouts  of  tri- 
umph, and  cover  heaven  with  sackcloth.  If  one  such  a  soul 
must  be  lost,  then  all  is  lost ;  the  Saviour  is  proved  to  be 
inadequate  to  his  work.  Let  it  no  longer  be  said,  (  He  has 
led  captivity  captive,  and  received  gifts  for  rebellious  men.' 
But,  thank  God,  there  is  no  such  failure.  Jesus  is  1  strong 
to  deliver  and  mighty  to  redeem.' 

" '  He  cannot  hear  a  sinner  pray, 
And  suffer  him  to  die.' 

"  Do  you  ask,  '  Why,  then,  does  he  not  deliver  me  V  Be- 
cause you  do  not  believe  on  him  ;  you  have  doubted  whether 
his  grace  was  sufficient  for  you.  Doubt  no  more  ;  throw 
yourself  upon  him ;  take  him  at  his  word ;  if  you  go  down 
to  the  pit,  sink  through  his  promise  ;  nay,  cling  to  the  prom- 
ise ;  carry  it  with  you  wherever  you  go  ;  i  sink  or  swim,  sur- 
vive or  perish,'  cleave  to  the  promise  of  God.  Remember  ! 
'  God  is  not  man,  that  he  should  lie.1  But  you  say,  '  I  know 
not  that  God  has  made  any  promise  to  me.1  Indeed,  he  has 
not,  unless  you  are  a  sinner  :  prove  to  me  you  are  not  a  sin- 
ner, and  I  will  acknowledge  there  is  not  a  promise  for  you 
23  Ll 


266 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


in  the  Gospel  charter.  '  Ah  !  but  I  am  a  great  sinner,'  you 
say  ;  '  that  is  my  difficulty,  the  ground  of  all  my  fear.'  Say, 
rather,  the  only  ground  of  your  hope  in  Christ.  If  you  are 
a  great  sinner,  you  are  in  the  better  case  for  Jesus  to  magnify 
the  riches  of  his  grace  towards  you.  Do  you  know  where  it  is 
written,  '  Where  sin  abounded,  grace  did  much  more  abound?' 
Has  sin  abounded  in  you  ?  Then  are  these  promises  for  you. 
O  that  God  would  open  your  eyes  to  see  them,  and  your 
heart  to  feel  them  !  O  that  you  could  hear  the  voice  of  him 
who  hath  said,  '  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are  weary  and 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest  !'  Listen  to  that 
voice,  my  weary,  sorrowing,  burdened  brother  !  O  listen, 
and  believe  !  Methinks  I  hear  that  voice  come  ringing 
down,  through  the  lapse  of  centuries,  sweet  and  fresh  as 
when  first  it  dropped  from  his  gracious  lips.  That  invita- 
tion and  promise,  my  dear  brother,  is  for  thee.  Does  it  not 
fall  on  thy  ear  like  a  powerful  charm  to  break  the  spell  of 
Satan,  and  set  thy  spirit  free  ?  Does  it  not  melt  thy  heart 
and  sooth  thy  soul  ? 

*' 4  Stung  by  the  scorpion  sin, 
Thy  poor  expiring  soul 

The  balmy  sound  drinks  in, 
And  is  at  once  made  whole  : 

New  songs  do  now  thy  lips  employ, 

And  dances  thy  glad  heart  for  joy.' 

"  Such,  I  doubt  not,  is  or  will  be  the  victory  of  thy  soul. 
With  this  hope  I  will  conclude.  Only  be  assured  of  this, 
that  my  feeble  prayers  will  go  up  to  the  mercy-seat  for  you. 
*  Satan  has  desired  to  have  thee,  that  he  may  sift  thee  as 
wheat ;  but  when  thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren.' 

"  From  your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"  W.  Fisk." 

About  this  period  Dr.  Fisk  received  a  letter  from  a  stran- 
ger seeking  religious  advice.  He  was  a  native  of  Germanv, 
of  superior  education,  and  early  impressions  of  Divine  truth. 
But,  having  got  entangled  in  the  labyrinth  of  German  meta- 
physics, his  heart  had  wandered  from  God.  Unable  to  find 
rest,  he  had  again  become  an  earnest  inquirer  after  the  right 
way,  and  was  now  in  a  state  of  great  anxiety.    The  first  lei- 


LETTER  TO  MR.  WILLIAM  NAST. 


267 


ter  which  he  received  in  answer  to  his  inquiries  has  not 
reached  us.    The  second  is  as  follows : 

To  Mr.  William  Nast,  Benvenu,  Dauphin  county,  Penn. 

"  Middletown,  March  12,  1833. 

"  Mv  dear  Sir, 

"  Since  receiving  yours,  I  have  been  so  occupied  as  to  be 
scarcely  at  leisure  to  write  to  you ;  and  now  I  can  say  but 
a  word.  I  am  deeply  afflicted  at  your  sorrow.  I  sympa- 
thize with  you,  and  would  fain  comfort  you.  But  I  am 
aware,  from  numerous  instances  that  I  have  witnessed,  that 
your  kind  of  despondency  readily  changes  every  considera- 
tion into  the  same  gloomy  hue  with  the  other  images  of  the 
mind,  even  though  such  consideration  be  designed  to  cheer 
the  heart.  Permit  me  to  say,  however,  if  you  have  not  yet 
obtained  relief,  I  am  confident  you  will. 

" '  Can  Jesus  hear  a  sinner  pray, 
Yet  suffer  him  to  die  V 

" '  No,  he  is  full  of  grace ; 
He  never  will  permit 
A  soul  that  fain  would  see  his  face, 
To  perish  at  his  feet.' 

"  You  take  wrong  views  of  the  Gospel,  my  brother. 
Christ  directed  '  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  to  be 
preached  in  his  name,  beginning  at  Jerusalem" — sins — not 
some  sins,  but  all.  And  that  none  need  despair,  he  commen- 
ced this  offer  among  those  whose  hands  were  not  yet  washed 
from  the  blood  of  him  who  now,  through  the  same  blood, 
offered  them  salvation ;  and  who  are  you,  my  brother,  that 
claimest  to  have  produced  a  case  too  hard  for  an  almighty 
Saviour  ?  Hell  might  indeed  triumph  if  this  were  true,  and 
the  blessed  Jesus  own  himself  conquered  ;  but,  thanks  to  his 
name,  he  has  triumphed;  he  has  1  led  captivity  captive,  and  re- 
ceived gifts  for  rebellious  man.'  '  But  it  is  so  just,'  you  think, 
'  to  cast  you  off.'  Yes,  so  it  would  be  to  cast  us  all  off. 
But  then  you  '  have  sinned  so  much,  and  against  such  great 
light.'  So  much  the  better  opportunity  for  the  Saviour  to 
show  that  'where  sin  abounds,  grace  does  much  more 
abound.' 

M  But  let  me  say  again,  you  take  wrong  views  of  yourself. 


268 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


You  think  your  wretched  feelings  are  in  consequence  of  your 
being  so  great  a  sinner  ;  but  it  is  rather  because  you  do  not 
reject  (your  sins).  Christ  is  willing  to  save  you  from  (your) 
sins ;  but  you  cannot  trust  him,  and  therefore  (your)  sin  and 
wretchedness  remain.  You  (say  that)  you  need  more  light 
and  more  strength,  (that)  you  may  be  able  to  see  Christ  and 
(love  him)  ;  but  you  mistake.  You  only  need  (to  go  to) 
Christ  that  you  may  have  light  (and  strength).  Take  Christ, 
then,  in  the  present  (time  for)  everything.  I  entreat  of  you, 
I  command  you  to  receive  Christ.  The  reception  of  Christ 
(is)  not  merely  a  privilege  which  you  may  possibly  attain  to 
by  the  Divine  favour,  but  it  is  a  duty  which  you  cannot  neg- 
lect without  Divine  displeasure.  Ask,  then,  not  whether  you 
may  receive  the  atonement,  whether  God  will  permit  it. 
You  must :  God  commands  it. 

"  (You  see),  then,  you  have  utterly  mistaken  (your)  own 
case  and  the  character  of  the  (Gospel).  Do  not,  then,  long- 
er dishonour  the  (Saviour)  and  injure  your  soul.  Remem- 
ber, (  As  many  as  received  Christ,  to  them  gave  he  power  (to 
become)  the  sons  of  God.' 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"  W.  Fisk." 

What  the  immediate  effect  of  this  truly  evangelical  epistle 
was  we  have  not  heard.  That  it  was  highly  prized  and  dil- 
igently perused,  are  indicated  by  its  tattered  condition. 
Many  parts,  as  the  reader  may  judge  from  the  number  of 
words  supplied  in  parentheses,  are  entirely  obliterated.  The 
gentleman  to  whom  it  was  addressed  has  since  become  fa- 
vourably known  as  a  useful  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  the  able  editor  of  the  German  Apologist, 
published  at  Cincinnati  for  the  benefit  of  the  German  popu- 
lation of  the  United  States. 

To  the  Rev.  C.  K.  True. 

"  August  3,  1833. 

"  With  respect  to  my  illness,  the  cause,  progress,  and 
cure,  they  are  briefly  these  :  The  pulmonary  complaint  with 
which  you  know  me  to  be  afflicted  has  hung  around  me 


LETTER  TO  REV.  C.  K.  TRUE.  269 

from  my  childhood.  When  I  first  commenced  preaching,  I 
could  speak  but  once  on  the  Sabbath,  and  rarely  once 
through  the  week.  I  gradually  gained  in  strength,  however, 
and  in  courage,  or,  rather,  presumption,  faster  than  in 
health.  When  I  was  stationed  in  Charlestown  I  saw  much 
to  do ;  I  was  inexperienced,  indiscreet,  and  zealous.  I 
preached  thrice  on  the  Sabbath,  besides  some  other  extra 
labours ;  attended  one  or  more  meetings  every  day  ;  visited 
daily  eight  or  ten  families,  and  talked,  sung,  and  prayed 
with  them  all ;  attended  camp-meetings,  and  there  laboured 
night  and  day,  and  often  prayed  and  preached  at  the  top  of 
my  voice,  and  fell  suddenly,  when  in  other  respects  I  was 
as  well  as  usual.  Through  irritation  and  inflammation  of  the 
lungs  I  was  confined  about  six  months ;  got  able  to  ride, 
and  spent  nearly  two  years  in  courting  the  nymph  Hygeia 
on  my  native  mountains,  or,  to  speak  more  like  a  Christian, 
in  doing  penance  for  my  indiscretion,  perhaps  I  ought  to 
say  my  folly,  and  in  the  use  of  means  waiting  for  God  to 
heal  me.  The  time  was  almost  a  blank.  I  studied  none, 
because  I  could  not  study.  The  system  was  like  a  bundle 
of  feeble  nerves,  which  were  disorganized  by  every  effort  at 
study.  I  spent  much  of  my  time  on  horseback,  which,  under 
God,  was  my  great  restorator.  Since  that  time  I  have 
learned  in  most  cases  to  stop  considerably  short  of  the  ex- 
treme point  of  endurance.  I  find,  the  way  to  sell  my  life  to 
the  enemy  as  dear  as  possible,  is  to  use  it  sparingly,  that  I 
may  use  it  longer.  I  expect  to  sacrifice  life  sooner  or  later  ; 
but,  by  the  aid  of  Providence,  I  hope  not  to  throw  it  away. 
If,  like  Samson,  I  am  ever  placed  in  a  situation  where  one 
mighty,  martyring  effort  is  likely  to  shake  down  the  temple 
of  sin,  and  in  my  death  I  can  slay  more  than  in  my  life,  then 
here  is  the  sacrifice.  I  can  assure  you,  my  brother,  the  devil 
likes  nothing  better  than  to  offer  up  scores  of  Methodist 
preachers  on  the  altar  of  an  indiscreet  zeal.  I  should,  indeed, 
except  one  thing :  he  would  prefer  destroying  their  zeal  al- 
together, because  he  knows,  if  they  die  fighting,  Jhey  will 
not  die  alone.  Better  that  they  all  die  this  year  tKan  lose 
their  zeal.  But  let  that  zeal  be  tempered." 
23* 


270 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


To  the  Rev.  O.  C.  Baker. 

"  Middletown,  September  18,  1833. 

"  My  dear  Brother, 
"  I  know  how  to  sympathize  with  you  in  your  present  fee- 
ble state  of  health.  Before  I  began  to  preach  I  was  in  a 
similar  state  for  eight  or  nine  months,  and  since  I  began  I 
have  had  one  turn  of  nearly  two  years,  in  which  I  was  laid 
by  as  a  broken  vessel.  I  never  experienced  anything  more 
trying  than  this.  To  be  reconciled  to  be  nothing;  nay, 
worse,  to  be  a  useless  burden  to  my  friends  and  the  world, 
was  an  extent  of  resignation  which  not  only  brought  into  re- 
quisition the  little  grace  I  had,  but  forced  me  to  pray  ear- 
nestly for  more.  This  kind  of  experience,  however,  will  do 
you  no  harm  ;  it  is  sent  by  your  heavenly  Father  in  mercy, 
and  will  result  in  good ;  besides,  you  have  hope  in  the  dis- 
tance even  in  this  world,  and  that,  too,  not  very  distant.  I 
cannot  think  your  constitution  is  broken  :  you  are  young, 
and  the  vigorous  energies  of  nature  will  heal  the  breaches 
and  repair  the  wastes  ;  only  it  becomes  yon  to  this  end  that 
you  take  a  prudent  course.  Let  me  counsel  you  a  little,  not 
as  a  physician,  but  as  a  man  wTho  has  added  to  common- 
sense  views  a  little  painful  experience  :  First,  then,  if  you 
feel  the  body  and  the  mind  feeble,  study  none  and  read  but 
little ;  ride  much  on  horseback  in  pleasant  weather ;  visit 
friends  far  and  near,  but  never  be  induced  by  them  either 
to  keep  irregular  hours  or  to  exert  yourself  beyond  your 
strength.  This  winter,  if  your  health  gets  so  that  you  can 
bear  it,  take  in  about  a  dozen  scholars  of  an  age  to  need  but 
little  care,  and  teach  them.  In  one  year,  perhaps  in  six  months, 
you  will  find  your  strength  returning,  and  you  will  be  able 
to  increase  your  exertions,  always  taking  care  that  you  do 
not  go  beyond  your  strength.  This  watching  one's  bodily 
symptoms,  I  know,  is  rather  earthly  business,  but  then  we  have 
to  take  care  of  the  house  for  the  sake  of  the  tenant ;  but  be 
sure  in  all  this  you  do  not  get  notional  and  spleeny,  as  it  is 
sometimes  termed.  This  is  a  difficult  point  to  adjust — to 
take  enough  of  care,  and  not  too  much;  especially  talk  but 
little  about  the  body  ;  this  is  injurious  to  health,  unprofitable 
to  the  soul,  and  wearisome  to  friends. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  UNION. 


271 


"  You  could  not  graduate  here  without  an  examination. 
Let  mathematics  alone  for  the  present ;  you  can  get  them 
hereafter  if  God  pleases  ;  if  not,  no  matter.  Do  not  be  so- 
licitous about  what  you  shall  do  hereafter.  Business  as  well 
as  grace,  this  life  as  well  as  another,  the  body  as  well  as 
the  soul,  require  that  we  should  walk  by  faith.  Sufficient 
for  the  day  are  its  duties,  as  well  as  its  sorrows  or  joys. 

"  My  love  to  friends,  and  believe  me,  as  ever,  your  friend 
and  brother,  W.  Fisk." 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  diversity  of  views  existing 
in  different  sections  of  our  country  had  introduced  some 
collision  of  mind  into  our  ecclesiastical,  as  well  as  into  civil 
affairs.  To  our  subject  this  conflict  was  peculiarly  painful; 
indeed,  it  made  him,  in  some  degree,  undervalue  the  impor- 
tance of  unity  in  our  ecclesiastical  organization,  as  he  could 
see  no  prospect  of  an  adjustment  of  these  differences.  Take 
the  following  in  evidence  upon  this  point :  At  the  General 
Conference  of  1828,  he  writes  to  Mrs.  Fisk  from  Pittsburgh, 
u  There  is  evidently  a  difference  in  habits,  in  feelings,  in 
views,  between  the  South  and  West  on  one  part,  and  the 
North  and  East  on  the  other  ;  and  it  is  very  probable  it 
will  ultimately  terminate  in  a  division  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  into  Northern  and  Southern  ;  and  I  confess, 
though  such  an  idea  was  at  first  painful  to  me,  I  have  begun 
to  look  upon  it  as  an  event  not  altogether  undesirable,  and 
perhaps  not  unprofitable."  But  it  is  worthy  of  observa- 
tion, that  greater  experience,  and  more  extended  knowledge 
and  information,  entirely  changed  his  views.  On  the  mar- 
gin of  the  passage  quoted  from  his  letter  of  May,  1828,  there 
is  a  note  in  his  handwriting,  dated  January,  1837,  thus  : 
"  Farther  experience  convinces  me  that  this  would  be  both 
undesirable  and  unprofitable  to  Church  and  State."  This  is 
clear  and  decided  testimony,  and  must  be  regarded  as  the 
last,  best  decision  of  a  most  competent  judge ;  nor  does  it 
possess  any  the  less,  but  rather  greater,  weight  from  his  hav- 
ing once  thought  differently. 

This  subject  began  to  appear  before  him  in  its  true  light 
at  the  General  Conference  of  1832.   He  saw  now  the  effect 


272 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


of  the  combined  wisdom  and  strength  of  the  whole  Church, 
in  the  facility  and  resources  thereby  furnished  for  carrying  on 
its  sacred  purposes.  He  also  felt  that  the  different  sections 
of  country  exercised  a  salutary  influence  on  each  other,  pla- 
cing a  check  or  applying  a  stimulant  as  might  be  required  ; 
and  thus  the  very  differences  which  exist  might  be  made  in- 
structive and  useful.  But  enough.  My  remarks  are  intend- 
ed only  to  introduce  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  Reverend 
Ignatius  A.  Few,  who  applied  to  Dr.  Fisk  for  some  infor- 
mation or  advice  in  organizing  the  Georgia  Manual  Labour 
School,  of  which  he  had  been  recently  appointed  principal: 

"  Middletown,  Conn.,  March  19,  1833. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  esteemed  favour  of  the  1st  instant  gave  me  great 
pleasure.  My  attachment  to  my  brethren  in  all  parts  of  our 
work  was  never  greater,  I  think  never  so  great,  as  since  our 
last  General  Conference.  It  was  the  third  I  have  attended, 
and  the  most  pleasant  of  the  three.  It  is  true,  there  was 
some  1  wordy  warfare  ;'  but,  in  respect  to  myself,  no  loss,  but 
rather  a  gain,  of  brotherly  love.  I  feel  more  the  spirit,  and 
see  more  the  need  of  the  union  of  all  parts  of  that  Church 
that  is  the  mother  of  us  all.  My  motto  is,  '  The  Church,' 
'  the  whole  Church  f  and  I  may  add,  in  view  of  the  most 
extended  relations  and  bearings  of  the  Christian  cause,  '  no- 
thing but  the  Church.'  " 

Meantime  Dr.  Fisk  lost  none  of  his  interest  in  the  impor- 
tant enterprises  of  the  day.  The  cause  of  Temperance,  es- 
pecially, which  was  steadily  widening  and  deepening  its  in- 
fluence, still  lay  very  near  his  heart.  In  the  month  of  May, 
1833,  he  delivered,  at  the  anniversary  of  the  New- York  City 
Temperance  Society,  his  celebrated  address  on  the  nature 
of  the  traffic  in  ardent  spirits.  This  branch  of  the  subject 
was  almost  new.  The  consumers  of  the  article  were  the 
principal  objects  of  attack,  while  the  manufacturers  and 
venders  were  but  little  disturbed.  An  inquiry  into  the  mo- 
rality of  the  trade,  therefore,  was  not  only  novel,  it  was  bold, 
evincing  no  slight  share  of  moral  courage.  It  was  fortunate 
for  him  and  the  cause  that  his  mode  of  presenting  the  sub- 


TEMPERANCE  ADDRESS. 


273 


ject  was  so  clear  and  dispassionate.  He  selected  his  ground 
with  great  caution,  laid  down  his  premises  fairly  and  dis- 
tinctly, and  deduced  his  conclusions  so  justly  that  few  would 
be  likely  to  controvert  them.  This  done,  his  close,  search- 
ing, powerful  appeals  carried  home  with  them  a  mighty  force, 
and  yet  they  could  scarcely  give  offence.  No  wonder  that  he 
was  greatly  successful.  The  address  on  this  occasion  was 
among  his  happiest  efforts.  Its  novelty  took  the  audience 
by  surprise,  and  its  clearness,  boldness,  and  power  excited 
their  admiration.  It  was  soon  published  in  the  Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal,  and  was  everywhere  read  with  great 
avidity.  It  was  subsequently  printed  at  the  Book  Concern 
as  a  tract,  and  has  had  a  wide  circulation. 

M  M 


274 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Mission  to  Liberia. — Translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  the  Mohawk  Lan- 
guage.— Oregon  Mission. — Calvinistic  Controversy. 

We  have  not  adhered,  as  the  reader  has  no  doubt  observ- 
ed, to  very  rigid  chronological  order  in  our  notice  of  some 
of  the  more  prominent  enterprises  in  which  our  subject  was 
engaged.  We  supposed  it  would  be  more  agreeable  to  fol- 
low out  some  topics  consecutively  than  to  break  them  up 
into  fragments  merely  to  preserve  the  order  of  time.  This 
is  the  case  with  the  cause  of  missions. 

We  have  already  had  some  intimation  of  the  interest  Dr. 
Fisk  took  in  the  evangelization  of  the  heathen.  The  address 
of  the  General  Conference  of  1828  to  the  British  Confer- 
ence, which  was  written  by  him,  as  before  mentioned,  and 
from  which  we  made  some  extracts,  bears  strong  testimony 
to  this  point.  This  feeling  was  very  strongly  enlisted  in  be- 
half of  the  mission  to  Liberia  ;  and  it  was  at  his  instigation 
that  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  at  New- York 
pledged  themselves  to  the  support  of  a  missionary  in  that 
field.  He  even  offered  to  go  out  himself  in  that  capacity  ;  an 
offer  which  the  board  declined,  in  consequence  of  a  strong 
remonstrance  from  the  friends  of  the  Wesleyan  University. 
In  consequence  of  this,  in  the  year  1832,  the  Rev.  Melville 
B.  Cox,  of  precious  memory,  was  appointed  ;  an  appoint- 
ment, however,  which  had  been  in  contemplation  for  some 
time  before.  He  ever  continued  his  interest  in  this  mission; 
went  several  times  to  New- York  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  to 
raise  funds,  and  in  various  ways  contributed  essentially  to 
the  object. 

Another  enterprise  in  which  he  was  prominent  deserves 
notice.  Our  missions  among  the  various  tribes  of  Indians  in 
Upper  Canada  had  been  very  successful,  astonishing  refor- 
mations had  been  effected,  and  numerous  and  flourishing 
churches  established.  But  the  converts  suffered  much  in- 
convenience and  detriment  for  want  of  a  knowledge  of  the 


MOHAWK  TRANSLATION   OF  THE   NEW  TESTAMENT.  275 


Holy  Scriptures,  a  part  only  of  the  New  Testament  having 
been  translated  and  published  in  their  language.  Under 
these  circumstances,  Dr.  Fisk  prevailed  on  the  Young  Men's 
Bible  Society  of  New- York  to  undertake  the  translation  and 
printing  of  the  New  Testament  in  the  Mohawk  language, 
that  being  the  most  prevalent  dialect  among  the  tribes  in  that 
region.    He  was  a  speaker  at  one  of  the  earliest  meetings 
of  that  society,  at  which  the  Rev.  William  Case  and  several 
converted  Indians  were  present.    Mr.  Case,  in  moving  the 
resolution  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Managers, 
dwelt  upon  the  destitute  condition  of  the  Indians,  and  ex- 
pressed a  strong  desire  to  see  their  wants  supplied.  Dr. 
Fisk,  in  seconding  this  resolution,  spontaneously  moved  to 
amend  the  same,  by  adding  that  the  society,  aided  by 
the  parent  society  and  the  auxiliaries,  would  pledge  them- 
selves to  raise  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  for  the  pur- 
pose of  translating  and  publishing  the  entire  New  Testament 
in  the  Mohawk  language.    The  amendment  prevailed,  and 
a  very  liberal  contribution  to  the  object  was  made  on  the 
spot.    Nor  did  his  labours  end  here.    While  the  society, 
through  various  obstacles,  were  prosecuting  this  work,  he  re- 
peatedly visited  New- York  to  preach,  or  make  addresses  in 
its  behalf,  or  otherwise  give  it  his  support.    When  it  was 
completed,  "he  rejoiced  with  exceeding  great  joy"  that  the 
thousands  of  the  tribes  who  understood  this  language  were 
now  enabled  to  read  for  themselves  the  words  of  the  Great 
Spirit.    The  meeting  at  which  Dr.  Fisk  made  the  proposal 
was  held  in  1831 :  the  translation  was  completed  in  1839. 

In  the  year  1833  originated  one  of  the  most  intensely  in- 
teresting missions  ever  projected  in  the  Christian  Church. 
I  allude  to  the  mission  to  the  Flathead  Indians,  or,  more 
properly  speaking,  to  Oregon  Territory.  As  Dr.  Fisk  was 
very  closely  connected  with  this  undertaking — indeed,  was 
the  father  of  it — we  shall  lay  its  history  before  the  reader. 

About  this  period,  or  somewhat  earlier,  there  arrived  at 
St.  Louis,  in  Missouri,  a  deputation  of  four  men  from  some 
of  the  Indian  tribes  situated  in  the  region  of  the  Columbia 
River  and  its  tributaries.  They  had  left  their  homes,  crossed 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  travelled  near  three  thousand 


276 


LIFE  OF  W1LLEUR  FISK. 


miles  through  the  wilderness  to  learn  something  of  the  true 
God.  They  had  been  excited  to  this  inquiry,  according  to 
some,  by  an  adventurer  who  had  found  his  way  into  their 
country,  and  was  providentially  present  at  one  of  their  idol- 
atrous feasts.  He  told  them  that  their  mode  of  worshipping 
the  Great  Spirit  was  altogether  wrong  and  displeasing  to 
him.  He  also  related  that  the  white  men  "  away  towards  ; 
the  sun  rising"  had  a  book  that  taught  them  how  to  worship 
God  acceptably.  Struck  with  the  tidings,  they  immediately 
called  a  national  council  to  consider  the  subject,  the  result 
of  which  was,  that  they  determined  on  despatching  four  of 
their  chiefs  in  quest  of  information  so  important.  On  this 
wonderful  mission  they  had  come  to  visit  General  Clarke, 
the  fellow-traveller  of  Lewis  through  the  Oregon  Territory, 
of  whom  they  had  heard,  who  now  resided  at  St.  Louis  as 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  under  the  general  govern- 
ment. They  looked  up  to  this  gentleman  with  great  respect, 
and  believed  him  to  be  the  most  likely  person  to  afford  them 
the  information  they  desired.  It  has  also  been  said  that 
two  of  the  four  deputies  had  spent  some  time  at  a  Catholic 
school  in  Canada,  and  that  their  communications  aided  in 
the  excitement  of  this  spirit  of  inquiry. 

They  reached  St.  Louis  in  safety,  where  they  were  kindly 
received  and  entertained  by  General  Clarke.  How  great 
must  have  been  his  astonishment  at  learning  the  object  of 
their  perilous  undertaking  !  And  greatly  did  he  feel  the  re- 
sponsibility that  rested  upon  him  in  being  unexpectedly 
called  on  for  an  exposition  of  the  Christian  faith.  He  satis- 
fied their  inquiries  as  far  as  he  could  ;  related  the  principal 
incidents  in  Scripture  history  from  the  creation  to  the  birth 
of  the  Saviour  ;  informed  them  of  the  incarnation,  death,  and 
resurrection  of  Christ,  and  explained  the  doctrines  and  pre- 
cepts of  the  Christian  religion.  Few  preachers  have  ever 
had  such  an  audience.  They  listened,  no  doubt,  with  pro- 
found attention  and  the  most  lively  interest,  expecting  to 
carry  back  to  their  countrymen  the  words  they  were  now 
hearing.  But,  alas  !  they  did  not  all  live  to  bear  home  the 
tidings.  Change  of  climate  and  mode  of  life  produced  dis- 
ease, and  two  of  them  finished  their  earthly  pilgrimage  at 


OREGON  MISSION. 


277 


St.  Louis.  The  other  two,  we  understand,  reached  their 
homes  in  safety. 

On  Thursday  evening,  March  1st,  1833,  the  above  account, 
furnished  by  G.  P.  Disosway,  Esq.,  from  a  letter  written  to 
him  by  Mr.  Wm.  Walker,  the  exploring  agent  of  the  Wy- 
andotts,  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal.  Dr.  Fisk,  on  the  evening  when  he  received 
it,  was  more  than  usually  engaged  in  writing  letters  for  the 
University,  of  which  several  had  to  go  into  the  mail  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  Nevertheless,  according  to  his  usual  cus- 
tom when  that  paper  was  handed  to  him,  he  ran  his  eye 
over  the  contents  to  see  whether  anything  demanded  imme- 
diate attention.  On  seeing  the  above  narrative,  he  immedi- 
ately remarked  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  I  have  something  interesting 
to  read  ;"  and,  having  read  the  article  aloud,  he  said,  "  We 
will  have  a  mission  there." 

"  It  would  be  a  noble  enterprise,"  remarked  Mrs.  Fisk ; 
"  but  where  will  you  get  the  man?" 

"  I  know,"  was  the  answer,  "  of  but  one  in  the  world  ev- 
ery way  qualified  for  such  an  undertaking,  and  you  know 
who  that  is." 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  "  but  you  are  too  late  for  him.  You 
know  it  is  about  time  for  Mr.  Lee  to  apply  for  admittance 
into  the  British  Conference."    Mr.  Lee  was  in  Canada. 

He  instantly  called  for  pen  and  ink,  and,  without  sitting 
down,  wrote  to  Mr.  Lee  to  ascertain  whether  he  would  en- 
gage in  the  enterprise,  should  the  Church  see  fit  to  appoint 
him.  In  half  an  hour  or  less  the  letter  was  in  the  postoffice. 
He  soon  received  word  from  Mr.  Lee  that  he  had  already  ap- 
plied to  the  British  Conference  for  admittance,  but  that  he 
should  prefer  the  mission,  and  would  engage  in  it  cheerfully, 
should  Providence  open  the  way.  By  some  miscarriage  of 
letters  or  other  derangement,  he  received  no  answer  to  his 
application  to  the  British  Conference,  and,  having  waited  a 
reasonable  time,  he  signified  his  readiness  to  engage  in  the 
Oregon  Mission.  Thus,  by  individual  promptitude  and  prov- 
idential arrangement,  this  noble  undertaking  was  originated. 

Dr.  Fisk's  next  step  was  to  insert  the  following  heraldic 
cry  in  the  Advocate  : 
'  24 

i 


278 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Hear  !  Hear  !   Who  will  respond  to  the  call  from  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains  ? 

"Messrs.  Editors, 

"  The  communication  of  Brother  G.  P.  Disosway,  inclu- 
ding one  from  the  Wyandott  agent  on  the  subject  of  the 
deputation  of  the  Flathead  Indians  to  General  Clarke,  has 
excited  in  many  in  this  section  intense  interest.  And,  to 
be  short  about  it,  we  are  for  having  a  mission  established 
there  at  once.  I  have  proposed  the  following  plan  :  Let 
two  suitable  men,  unencumbered  with  families,  and  possess- 
ing the  spirit  of  martyrs,  throw  themselves  into  the  nation. 
Live  with  them  ;  learn  their  language  ;  preach  Christ  to 
them  ;  and,  as  the  way  opens,  introduce  schools,  agriculture, 
and  the  arts  of  civilized  life.  The  means  for  these  improve- 
ments can  be  introduced  through  the  fur-traders,  and  by  the  re- 
enforcements  with  which,  from  time  to  time,  we  can  strength- 
en the  mission.  Money  shall  be  forthcoming.  I  will  be 
bondsman  for  the  Church.  All  we  want  is  the  men.  Who 
will  go  ?  Who  ?  I  know  of  one  young  man  who  I  think 
will  go,  and  of  whom  I  can  say  I  know  of  none  like  him 
for  the  enterprise.  If  he  will  go  (and  we  have  written  to 
him  on  the  subject),  we  only  want  another,  and  the  mission 
will  be  commenced  the  coming  season.  Were  I  young  and 
healthy,  and  unencumbered,  how  joyfully  would  I  go!  But 
this  honour  is  reserved  for  another.  Bright  will  be  his 
crown,  glorious  his  reward.    Affectionately  yours, 

"  W.  Fisk. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  March  9,  1833." 

This  stirring  appeal  was  followed  up  by  suitable  measures 
to  raise  funds ;  but  so  deep  and  pervading  was  the  interest 
excited  in  the  public  mind,  that  these  began  to  flow  in  rap- 
idly. Societies  and  individuals,  both  of  our  own  and  other 
denominations,  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  tendered 
their  contributions.  Indeed,  it  began  to  be  feared  that  this 
mission  would  absorb  too  great  a  portion  of  the  Church's 
sympathy,  and  so  injure  others  ;  and  hence  Dr.  Fisk  was  in- 
duced to  publish  a  request  that  it  might  be  left  to  the  es- 


INTEREST  FELT  IN  THE  MISSION. 


279 


pecial  care  of  the  missionary  societies  of  Middle  town,  New- 
Haven,  and  Hartford. 

The  following  notice  was  inserted  in  the  New- York  Ob- 
server of  August  7,  1833.  It  is  delightful  to  see  Christians 
of  different  sects  thus  aiding  each  other,  and  rejoicing  in 
each  other's  labours.  May  the  monitory  hints  these  lines 
contain  prove  a  blessing  to  our  readers  who  may  be  engaged 
in  the  missionary  cause. 

"  Flathead  Indians. 

"  We  rejoice  to  learn  that  a  very  deep  and  extensive  in- 
terest is  felt  in  the  success  of  the  mission  which  our  Metho- 
dist brethren  are  about  to  send  to  this  interesting  tribe  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  The  following  letter  has  been  forward- 
ed to  us  for  publication  : 

"  '  Rev.  Willbur  Fisk,  D.D.— Sir, 

"  4  I  was  interested  in  the  account  recently  given  in  some 
of  the  public  journals  of  the  solicitude  of  the  Flathead  In- 
dians to  know  the  true  God,  and  how  to  worship  him. 

"  1  The  appeal  made  by  you  in  their  behalf  derived  weight 
from  the  assurance  given  by  you,  that  if  younger,  you  would 
yourself  carry  the  Gospel  to  them.  While  I  rejoice  that 
you  have  taken  up  this  subject  with  so  much  zeal,  I  still 
more  rejoice  that  devoted  men  of  ardent  piety  have  conse- 
crated themselves  to  this  holy  employment.  Let  them  en- 
deavour to  possess  the  prudence  of  Swartz,  the  humility  of 
Brainerd,  the  learning  of  Martyn,  the  devotedness  of  Fisk, 
the  self-denial  of  Judson,  the  untiring  ardour  of  GutzlafF,  and, 
with  the  blessing  of  the  God  of  missions  on  their  labours, 
they  may  hope  soon  to  see  these  children  of  the  forest  be- 
coming sons  and  daughters  of  the  Lord  Almighty. 

"  '  Funds  will  be  required  to  accomplish  your  benevolent 
undertaking,  and  the  enclosed  $50  will  not,  I  trust,  be  the 
less  acceptable  from  the  circumstance  that  it  is  presented 
by  one  not  of  your  denomination. 

u  c  I  shall  learn  that  the  money  reaches  you  safely  if  the 
receipt  of  it  is  acknowledged  in  the  New- York  Observer. 
"  <  Yours,  &c,  X.  X. 

"  1  New-London,  July  19.' 


280 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  We  learn  also  from  Mr.  G.  P.  Disosway,  of  this  city,  to 
whom,  with  his  friend  Walker  of  the  Wyandott  nation,  the 
Christian  world  are  indebted  for  the  first  notice  of  these  ex- 
traordinary inquirers  after  i  the  truth,'  that  a  young  gentle- 
man in  the  interior  of  this  state  has  offered  the  whole  of  his 
property,  amounting  to  $2000,  in  aid  of  this  mission,  provi- 
ded he  can  have  the  privilege  of  being  usefully  employed 
himself  in  that  field  of  labour.  The  same  gentleman  informs 
us  that  the  account  of  the  visit  of  these  Indians  has  recently 
been  published  in  the  Journal  Official  de  l'Instruction  Pub- 
lique,  which  is  the  official  paper  of  the  University,  Royal 
Institution  of  France,  and  several  other  literary  and  scien- 
tific institutions.  The  publication  of  such  intelligence  in  this 
journal  indicates  that  there  is  some  feeling  on  the  subject 
even  in  Catholic  France.  No  mission  which  has  been  un- 
dertaken in  modern  times  seems  to  have  excited  such  deep 
and  general  interest." 

The  appeal  thus  made  to  the  sympathy  of  Christians 
spread  throughout  the  country  like  lightning,  and  enkindled 
a  holy  ardour  in  many  hearts.  The  effect  was  surprising. 
In  one  year  the  income  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  more  than  doubled.  Thus  the 
expansion  of  sympathy  develops  resources.  We  scarcely 
know  what  are  our  capabilities  until  the  mind  is  quickened 
to  unusual  action,  and  the  heart  enlarged  by  powerful  emo- 
tion. The  influence  in  bringing  forth  funds  was  hardly  ex- 
ceeded by  its  effect  in  drawing  men  into  the  missionary  cause. 
One  noble  offer  has  been  mentioned  already.  The  follow- 
ing is  another.  It  is  contained  in  a  letter  directed  to  Dr. 
Fisk. 

"  New-Madrid  Circuit,  Missouri,  April  15,  1833. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

"  A  few  weeks  ago,  in  the  Christian  Advocate,  I  met  with 
the  Flathead  Indian  chiefs'  visit  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  much 
affected  by  that  relation.  Had  I  received  this  intelligence 
sooner,  and  been  without  any  engagement,  I  think  that  I 
should  not  have  hesitated  to  go  with  the  chiefs  on  my  own 


LETTER  FROM  MR.  R.  W.  OWEN. 


281 


responsibility.  I  learned,  however,  by  that  account  that  the 
chiefs  had  returned,  and  thus  my  thoughts  on  the  subject 
were  for  a  while  suspended.  I  have  for  some  time  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  engage  in  missionary  service,  and  have  been 
waiting  for  some  door  to  be  opened  by  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  that  I  might  enter  in  and  labour.  During  the  past 
week  I  have  been  severely  exercised.  I  felt  that  some 
great  change  was  about  to  take  place  in  my  condition,  which 
time  and  Providence  alone  could  explain.  While  in  this 
state  of  anxious  suspense,  waiting  for  the  Almighty  to  unfold 
his  designs,  your  letter  in  the  Advocate,  stating  that  a  mis- 
sion to  the  Flathead  Indians  is  determined  upon,  fell  into 
my  hands,  and  it  appeared  as  an  electric  spark  to  burst  the 
cloud  that  had  so  long  enveloped  my  mind.  You  ask,  '  Who 
will  go  as  a  missionary  to  the  Flatheads  V  I  fully  believe 
that  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  go,  and,  consequent- 
ly, I  offer  myself  for  the  service.  I  have  counted  the  cost, 
and  expect  it  will  be  perpetual  exile  from  civilized  life,  toil, 
danger,  hardship,  and  probably  premature  death  ;  but  none 
of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto 
me,  so  that  I  may  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  minis- 
try which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

"  It  is  about  two  years  ago  since,  in  the  State  of  New- 
York,  we  heard  the  cry  from  the  distant  West,  '  Come  over 
to  Missouri  and  help  us.'  I  came  over,  and  brought  my  free- 
will offering,  and  was  permitted  to  witness  such  an  outpour- 
ing of  the  Divine  Spirit,  that  I  then  resolved,  if  such  were 
the  high  remunerations  of  Heaven,  should  the  cry  for  help 
ever  again  be  heard  from  the  setting  sun,  that  I  would  be 
the  first  to  respond  to  it.  Little,  indeed,  did  I  then  think 
that  this  would  ever  be  the  case  ;  but  the  ways  of  God  are 
mysterious. 

"  An  event  altogether  unprecedented  in  the  annals  of  the 
Christian  Church  has  taken  place.  The  messengers  of  a  dis- 
tant nation  have  suddenly,  Heaven  directed,  appeared  be- 
fore us  to  ask  the  bread  of  everlasting  life,  and  a  knowledge 
of  the  white  man's  God. 

"  I  shall  rejoice  to  be  commissioned  by  our  Church  to  car- 
ry the  tidings  of  salvation  over  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
24*  N  n 


282 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


there  to  plant  the  tree  of  life  among  the  distant  sons  of  the 
forest,  that  it  may  bear  its  immortal  fruits  for  the  service  of 
the  surrounding  natives.  How  vast  the  good  that  may  re- 
sult from  such  an  establishment  !  Gospel  truth,  like  a  mighty 
river,  may  roll  onward  and  downward  to  generations  unborn. 

"  If  you  think  my  offer  worth  attention,  I  shall  be  glad  to 
hear  from  you  as  soon  as  possible,  and  will  give  you  any  in- 
formation in  relation  to  myself  that  you  may  wish. 

"I  remain,  dear  brother,  yours,  &c, 

"R.W.  Owex. 

"  Rev.  Willbur  Fisk." 

But  the  men  were  already  provided  for  this  work.  The 
Rev.  Jason  Lee,  and  his  nephew,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Lee,  had 
been  accepted  by  the  Missionary  Society,  and  appointed  by 
Bishop  Hedding,  together  with  Mr.  Cyrus  Shepherd  as 
school-teacher.    In  the  month  of  November  they  were  ready 
to  commence  their  perilous  and  tedious  journey,  and  had  al- 
ready held  various  public  meetings  to  take  leave  of  the 
churches,  and  commend  the  undertaking  to  their  prayers 
and  patronage.    They  were,  however,  greatly  at  a  loss  for 
information  as  to  their  route,  and  as  to  the  arrangements 
necessary  for  the  journey.    After  having  used  every  effort 
to  procure  information,  there  seemed  little  hope  for  them 
but  to  commence  their  journey,  as  Abraham  did  of  old, 
scarcely  knowing  whither  they  went,  and  depending  on  such 
intelligence  as  they  could  gather  by  the  way.    How  great, 
then,  was  their  delight  to  learn,  the  very  day  after  the  Fare- 
well Meeting  in  the  City  of  New- York,  that  Captain  Wyeth 
had  arrived  at  Boston  from  Oregon,  whither  he  had  been  on 
a  trading  expedition.    This  seemed  like  an  opening  of  Prov- 
idence.   By  the  advice  of  the  Missionary  Board,  they  now 
turned  their  course  to  Boston.    On  this  journey  Dr.  Fisk  ac- 
companied them,  aiding  them  by  his  counsel,  and  holding 
public  meetings  with  them.    He  preached  on  Friday  and  on 
Sunday  evenings  in  the  Bromfield-street  Church,  and  on 
the  former  occasion  Captain  Wyeth  answered,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  congregation,  sundry  questions  touching  the  pros- 
pects of  a  mission  to  Oregon,  and  gave  much  information 


DEPARTURE  OF  THE  MISSIONARIES. 


283 


highly  valuable  to  the  missionaries.  From  this  city  Dr.  Fisk 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Fisk :  "  Our  visit  to  Captain  Wyeth  has  been 
most  providential.  He  is  going  out  with  a  party  in  the 
spring,  and  will  take  the  missionaries  under  his  protection. 
He  will  go  quite  over  the  mountains.  He  is  a  fine  man. 
They  will  also  send  out  a  vessel  that  will  carry  any  neces- 
sary freight.  Much  information  has  also  been  obtained  of 
great  importance  to  the  mission.    I  cannot  state  the  details." 

Early  in  the  spring  the  missionaries  proceeded  to  St, 
Louis,  holding  public  meetings  at  every  important  town, 
and  everywhere  quickening  the  Church  to  effort.  The  lat- 
ter part  of  April  they  started  from  St.  Louis,  on  horseback, 
for  the  place  appointed  to  meet  the  trading  companies,  and 
thence  over  the  Rocky  Mountains,  three  thousand  miles 
away  from  the  abodes  of  civilization.  The  perils  of  the 
wilderness,  especially  to  men  unaccustomed  to  such  a  life, 
were  great ;  but,  while  the  traders  were  supported  by  the 
hope  of  secular  gain  and  a  spirit  of  adventure,  the  others 
were  borne  up  by  their  love  for  immortal  souls,  and  the 
hope  of  waving  the  banner  of  salvation  along  the  shores  of 
the  Columbia  and  the  Pacific,  and  swelling  the  army  of  the 
faithful  among  the  wilds  of  Oregon.  We  might  dwell  on  the 
moral  grandeur  of  the  enterprise,  but  it  is  our  business  sim- 
ply to  record  facts ;  we  leave  it  to  others  to  expatiate  upon 
them. 

This  seems  to  be  a  suitable  place  for  explaining  what 
might  lead  to  a  false  impression.  In  the  foregoing  account 
the  Flathead  Indians  seem  to  be  spoken  of  as  a  single  tribe, 
which  might  convey  to  the  reader  an  idea  that  the  impor- 
tance of  the  object  was  hardly  sufficient  to  justify  such  un- 
wonted exertion  ;  but  the  name  of  Flathead*  is  common  to 

*  The  name  of  Flathead,  as  is  known  to  many  of  our  readers,  is  taken  from 
the  singular  shape  of  the  scull,  not  flattened  on  the  top,  but  tapering  towards  the 
crown,  both  before  and  behind,  into  something  of  a  wedge-like  form.  The  pro- 
cess of  effecting  this  is  graphically  described  by  Washington  Irving  in  his 
Astoria,  vol.  i.,  p.  93 :  "  The  infant  is  laid  in  a  wooden  trough  by  way  of  cradle. 
The  end  on  which  the  head  reposes  is  higher  than  the  rest.  A  padding  is  placed 
on  the  forehead  of  the  infant,  with  a  piece  of  bark  above  it,  and  is  pressed  down 
by  cords  which  pass  through  holes  on  each  side  of  the  trough.  As  the  tighten- 
ing of  the  padding  and  the  pressing  of  the  head  to  the  board  is  (are)  gradual,  the 


284 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


numerous  tribes  inhabiting  the  shore  of  the  Pacific  Ocean 
south  of  the  Columbia  River.  These  tribes  number  not  less 
than  ten  thousand  souls.  But  in  addition  to  these  are  the 
Nez  Perces,  or  Chopunnish  Indians,  who  were  also  concern- 
ed in  the  deputation.  They  reside  along  the  River  Lewis, 
about  the  mouth  of  the  Kooskooskee,  and  include  seven  thou- 
sand more.  According  to  the  estimate  made  by  Lewis  and 
Clarke  in  their  travels,  there  are  about  sixty  different  tribes 
inhabiting  this  vast  region,  numbering  in  all  not  less  than 
eighty  thousand  human  beings.  Perhaps  even  this  is  below 
the  truth,  since  it  is  very  probable  that  many  tribes  escaped 
the  knowledge  of  the  travellers. 

But  this  is  not  the  only  important  aspect  of  this  interest- 
ing mission.  That  extensive  region  has  long  been  the  seat 
of  various  establishments  engaged  in  the  fur-trade,  and  some 
insulated  colonies  for  agricultural  objects.  In  these  the 
whites  have  intermarried  with  the  natives,  so  that  a  motley 
race  is  rising  up  of  semi-barbarians.  Having  among  them, 
to  some  extent,  the  elements  of  civilization,  they  will  no 
doubt  multiply ;  so  that  there  is  no  faint  prospect  of  that 
country,  abounding,  as  it  does,  in  everything  to  tempt  cupidi- 
ty, becoming,  at  no  distant  day,  a  populous  and  productive 
region.  The  influence  of  the  whites  upon  the  aborigines  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  settlements  has,  as  may  well  be  supposed, 
been  highly  pernicious,  and  the  Gospel  provides  the  only 
means  of  their  rescue  from  degradation  and  ruin.  In  other 
parts  the  Indians  were  represented  as  unusually  moral,  mild, 
docile,  and  accessible.  In  every  point  of  view,  therefore, 
this  enterprise  presented  very  great  claims  upon  Christian 
philanthropy. 

We  shall,  in  this  place,  introduce  a  brief  history  of  Dr. 

process  is  said  not  to  be  attended  with  much  pain.  The  appearance  of  the  in- 
fant, however,  while  in  this  state  of  compression,  is  whimsically  hideous,  and 
1  its  little  black  eyes,'  we  are  told,  'being  forced  out  by  the  tightness  of  the  band- 
ages, resemble  those  of  a  mouse  choked  in  a  trap.'  About  a  year's  pressure  is 
sufficient  to  produce  the  desired  effect,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  child  emer- 
ges from  its  bandages  a  complete  flathead,  and  continues  so  through  life."  Mr. 
Irving  adds,  that  this  distinction  "has  something  in  it  of  aristocratical  significan- 
cy,  like  the  crippling  of  the  feet  of  the  Chinese  ladies  of  quality.  At  any  rate,  it 
is  a  sign  of  freedom.  No  slave  is  permitted  to  bestow  this  enviable  deformity 
upon  his  child  ;  all  the  slaves,  therefore,  are  roundheads." 


CALVINISTIC  CONTROVERSY. 


285 


Fisk's  participation  in  the  Calvinistic  Controversy.  It  com- 
menced somewhat  earlier  than  this,  and  continued  until 
1835 ;  but  we  have  delayed  noticing  it  until  now,  and  shall 
here  present  it  without  interruption. 

The  sermon  on  Predestination  had  been  two  years  before 
the  public,  and  had  reached  its  third  edition  before  any  very 
serious  notice  was  taken  of  it.  "  After  the  third  edition  was 
announced,"  says  our  subject,  "there  were  several  passing 
acrimonious  censures  in  some  Calvinistic  periodicals,  which 
did  not  affect  the  merits  of  the  question,"*  and  therefore 
were  not  answered.  At  length,  however,  an  opponent  ap- 
peared in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tyler,  of  Middletown, 
who  published  a  discourse  obviously,  though  not  professedly, 
in  opposition  to  it.  But  its  propositions  were  so  indetermi- 
nate as  scarcely  to  admit  of  argument :  for  what  dispute  on 
election  can  be  maintained  with  one  who  defines  it  "  the 
eternal  purpose  of  God  to  renew,  sanctify,  and  save  every 
man  whom  he  wisely  can,  and  no  others  ?" 

In  1831,  a  writer  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  Connec- 
ticut Observer  over  the  signature  of  Truth.  He  complained 
bitterly  of  what  he  was  pleased  to  denominate  the  misrepre- 
sentations of  the  sermon,  and  even  implicated  the  author's 
character  as  a  "  gentleman  and  a  Christian."  The  commu- 
nication bore  the  aspect  of  a  challenge,  and  even  "  dared" 
the  author  of  the  sermon  to  reiterate  certain  specified  state- 
ments. In  his  reply  he  says,  u  And  now,  Mr.  Editor,  not 
because  your  correspondent  has  '  dared'  me  to  it  in  the 
taunting  manner  of  a  knight-errant  seeking  an  adventure,  but 
to  bring  this  matter  to  a  fair  trial  and  a  just  decision  before 
the  public,  I  have  thrown  into  distinct  propositions  the  state- 
ments in  my  sermon  which  have  given  so  much  offence,  not 
only  to  your  correspondent,  but,  as  I  am  informed,  to  many 
other  Predestinarians,  both  of  the  clergy  and  of  the  laity ; 
and  if  any  responsible  person  or  persons  will,  in  any  suita- 
ble public  way,  attempt  to  sustain  the  opposite  of  these 
propositions,  I  will,  so  far  as  I  am  able,  support  them ;  and 
if  I  fail  in  the  proof,  I  will  acknowledge  my  mistake,  and  do 
what  I  can  to  counteract  my  error.  If  any  or  all  of  these 
*  Calvinistic  Controversy. 


286 


LIFE  OP  WILLBUR  FISK. 


statements  shall  be  sustained  by  credible  testimony  or  fair 
reasoning,  I  shall  be  willing  to  leave  it  to  the  good  sense 
and  piety  of  those  concerned  to  correct  the  evils."  Then 
follows  seven  distinct  propositions,  which  we  need  not  in- 
sert, as,  in  form  or  in  fact,  they  are  contained  in  the  sermon 
on  Predestination,  and  are  discussed  in  the  papers  on  the 
Calvinistic  Controversy,  which  have  been  for  some  years  be- 
fore the  public.  This  article  was  first  published  in  the  Con- 
necticut Observer,  and  copied  into  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal. 

Opponents  now  became  numerous.  In  addition  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Tyler  and  the  Connecticut  Observer,  already  men- 
tioned, the  Quarterly  Christian  Spectator,  the  Rev.  David 
Metcalf,  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  the  Boston  Telegraph,  the 
New- York  Evangelist,  and  I  know  not  how  many  more,  en- 
tered the  arena  of  contest.  The  article  in  the  Christian 
Spectator,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Professor  Fitch,  was 
ably  written,  ingenious,  dignified,  and  courteous.*  Mr. 

*  The  general  scope  of  this  article  is  to  show  that  Dr.  Fisk  confounded  the 
fact  of  Predestination  with  the  solution  of  the  fact  as  held  by  some  Calvinists  ; 
and  that  the  fact  is  true,  though  the  solution  on  which  Dr.  Fisk's  arguments  are 
based  is  false. 

This  is  certainly  ingenious  ;  but,  unfortunately  for  its  success,  it  was  incum- 
bent on  the  reviewer  to  prove  that  Dr.  Fisk's  was  not  the  identical  solution  of 
Calvin  and  of  the  Calvinistic  formularies.  This,  we  think,  he  has  hardly  done. 
The  reviewer  shows  that  he,  and  many  who  are  called  Calvinists,  do  not  hold 
this  view  of  Predestination ;  that,  in  fact,  their  view  of  that  doctrine  is  essen- 
tially Arminian.  But,  after  all,  this  proves  no  more  than  that,  if  their  theory  is 
what  Dr.  Fisk  did  not  aim  at,  then  he  did  not  hit  it.  But  this  affords  no  shield 
to  others ;  and,  indeed,  the  reviewer  himself  admits  that  some,  at  least,  do 
hold  to  the  theory  opposed  in  the  sermon,  and  frankly  acknowledges  that  they 
are  effectually  answered  in  it. 

Yet  the  reviewer  seems  hardly  clear  in  distinguishing  his  theory  from  that  of 
the  Genevan  divine ;  for  while  the  latter  says,  as  quoted  by  Dr.  Fisk,  "  Adam 
fell,  not  only  by  the  permission,  but  also  by  the  appointment  of  God  :  He  not  only 
foresaw  that  Adam  would  fall,  but  also  ordained  that  he  should  fall ;"  the  former 
deliberately  states  his  proposition  on  Predestination  thus  :  "  God  determined 
that  the  events  which  take  place  should  take  place  in  the  very  manner  in  which 
they  do,  and  for  the  very  ends."  It  seems  to  us  impossible  to  reconcile  this 
with  the  solution  of  Predestination  given  in  the  review. 

The  reviewer  makes  a  distinction  between  "  election  unto  holiness"  and 
"  election  to  salvation ;"  affirming  that  the  former  only  is  unconditional,  while  he 
predicates  conditionality  of  the  latter.*   But,  unfortunately  for  his  cause,  the 

*  See  Christian  Spectator,  vol.  iii.,  for  1831,  p.  619. 


CALVINISTIC  CONTROVERSY. 


287 


Metcalf,  who  came  out  in  a  pamphlet*  of  forty-eight  pages, 
was  of  a  different  character.  His  manner  was  arrogant  and 
dogmatical.  He  seemed  to  think  that  the  game  was  entirely 
in  his  own  hands,  and  that  he  had  now  only  to  bring  his  op- 
ponent to  his  knee,  and  deal  out  terms  at  discretion.  In 
view  of  the  proposition  made  by  Dr.  Fisk,  as  given  in  the 
preceding  paragraph,  Mr.  Metcalf  demanded  that  he  should 
make  "  a  public  acknowledgment  of  his  errors  ;"  and  farther 
asserts,  "  if,  after  he  shall  receive  these  letters,  remembering 
also  what  is  said  in  the  Christian  Spectator's  review  of  his 
sermon,  he  shall  allow  another  copy  of  it  to  be  printed,  I 
think  he  will  find  it  difficult  to  convince  any  intelligent  can- 
did man  that  he  is  not  guilty  of  breaking  the  ninth  command- 
ment." This  language  is  altogether  too  supercilious  to  be 
used  towards  an  equal,  and  is  especially  improper,  consider- 
ing that,  except  what  little  modicum  of  credit  is  given  to 
Professor  Fitch  in  the  passing  allusion  to  his  article  in  the 
Christian  Spectator,  the  demand  was  made  on  the  score  of 

doctrine  of  infallible  perseverance  ties  the  two  together  so  closely  as  to  neutral- 
ize this  distinction.  Moreover,  how  will  this  view  agree  with  the  authorized  ex- 
position of  election  1  At  the  first  passage  to  which  I  open  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  I  find  these  words :  "  Those  of  mankind  that  are  predestinated  unto  life, 
God,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and 
immutable  purpose,  and  the  secret  counsel  and  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  hath 
chosen  in  Christ,  unto  everlasting  glory,  out  of  his  mere  free  grace  and  love,  with- 
out any  foresight  of  faith  or  good  works,  or  perseverance  in  either  of  them,  or 
any  other  thing  in  the  creature  as  conditions  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto." 
And  in  the  answer  to  the  thirteenth  question  in  the  Larger  Catechism,  we  have 
these  words  :  "  God,  by  an  eternal  and  immutable  decree,  out  of  his  mere  love,  for 
the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace,  to  be  manifested  in  due  time,  hath  elected  some 
angels  to  glory,  and,  in  Christ,  hath  chosen  some  men  to  eternal  life  and  the  means 
thereof''  &c.  Here  the  election  to  salvation  is  stated  as  prior  to  the  election  to 
holiness,  and  the  latter  as  the  consequence  rather  than  as  the  condition  of  the 
former ;  for  "  some  men  are  elected  unto  eternal  life  and  the  means  thereof." 

For  farther  observations  on  the  subject,  we  refer  the  reader  to  Dr.  Fisk's  first 
number  of  the  Calvinistic  Controversy. 

*  Mr.  Metcalf  desired  to  have  his  letters  published  in  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal.  But  as  they  were  in  reply  to  the  whole  sermon  instead  of  the  par- 
ticular propositions  on  which  Dr.  Fisk  had  challenged  debate,  and  as  the  sermon 
was  never  published  in  the  Advocate,  the  editors  declined  their  insertion.  They 
were  then  published,  like  the  sermon,  in  pamphlet.  It  will  be  seen  afterward 
that  a  proposition  was  made  to  publish  Mr.  Metcalf 's  letters  in  that  paper,  to- 
gether with  any  subsequent  discussions,  provided  some  extensively-circulated 
Calvinistic  paper  would  insert  Dr.  Fisk's  sermon,  and  such  discussions  as  were, 
or  might  be,  consequent  upon  it.   This  was  fair. 


283 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


his  own  publication.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  a 
combatant,  when  he  "  girdeth  on  his  harness,  to  boast  himself 
as  he  that  putteth  it  off;"  but  it  not  unfrequently  leads  to 
deeper  mortification.  We  ought,  however,  in  justice  to  Mr. 
Metcalf,  to  say,  that  during  the  progress  of  the  controversy 
he  addressed  a  note  to  Dr.  Fisk,  requesting  him  to  hasten 
his  work,  inquiring  into  some  things  not  entirely  satisfactory 
to  him,  and  expressing  a  hope  that  they  might  yet  establish 
an  identity  of  views  upon  some  of  the  points  in  debate.  It 
was  expressed  in  a  manner  altogether  unexceptionable,  at 
once  courteous,  liberal,  and  Christianlike.  The  deviations 
from  propriety  in  the  pamphlet  must  therefore  be  accredit- 
ed to  that  unguarded  spirit  which  controversy  too  frequently 
engenders,  even  in  persons  in  other  respects  wise  and  good. 

The  articles  in  the  Boston  Telegraph  ran  through  ten  num- 
bers of  the  paper,  filling  in  all  about  twenty-two  columns. 
The  writer  signed  himself  Timothy.  He  is  of  an  entirely 
different  school  from  Mr.  Metcalf  and  the  Christian  Spec- 
tator ;  for,  while  these  endeavoured  to  bring  Arminianism 
and  New  School  Calvinism  upon  the  same  ground,  the  oth- 
er maintained  the  plain  oldfashioned  theory  of  irresistible 
grace,  particular  election,  and  positive  fore-ordination.  Nay, 
so  honest  and  downright  is  the  author  of  the  articles,  that  he 
freely  admits  that  God  is  the  author  of  sin.  The  passage  is 
curious.  In  answering  the  assertion  of  his  opponent,  that 
the  doctrine  of  Predestination  makes  God  the  author  of  sin, 
after  giving  several  senses  to  the  word  author,  such  as  the 
u  doer  or  perpetrator  of  a  thing,"  the  "  approver  as  well  as 
doer  of  a  thing,"  and,  lastly,  the  "  efficient  cause,"  he  thus 
proceeds  :  "  Now  I  am  willing  to  admit,  that  those  Scriptures 
which  teach  that  God  has  decreed  the  sinful  conduct  of  men, 
do  imply  that  he  is  the  efficient  cause  of  moral  evil.  For 
his  own  glory  and  the  greatest  good,  he  said,  '  Let  there  be 
sin,  and  there  was  sin.''  The  above  objection,  when  stripped 
of  all  ambiguity,  means  only  that  1  God  worketh  all  things 
(without  exception)  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will.'  "  We 
insert  this  extract  only  to  show  the  writer's  creed ;  but  it  is 
not  necessary  to  enlarge  upon  his  views.  The  papers  are 
written  with  good  temper  and  considerable  ability ;  but  this 


CALVINIST1C  CONTROVERSY. 


289 


aspect  of  the  controversy  is  not  exciting  much  attention  at 
the  present  period. 

It  was  now  high  time  to  couch  the  lance  and  address 
himself  to  conflict.  The  array  against  him  was  formidable, 
and  fearful  the  odds ;  yet  he  was  not  disposed  to  shun  the 
encounter.  His  first  article  was  published  in  May,  1832, 
in  answer  to  the  Christian  Spectator ;  and  his  second  in  Oc- 
tober following,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Metcalf.  This  gentleman 
had  thrown  out  a  charge  against  the  Methodist  clergy  of 
wishing  to  keep  their  people  from  reading  Calvinistic  publi- 
cations. To  meet  this  promptly,  Dr.  Fisk  makes  the  follow- 
ing proposition : 

"  And,  in  the  mean  time,  as  a  farther  proof  that  the  charge 
is  unfounded,  I  will,  Messrs.  Editors,  with  your  consent  and 
approbation,  make  a  proposition  to  Mr.  Metcalf.  It  is  cer- 
tainly desirable  that  both  Calvinists  and  Methodists  should 
hear  both  sides.  Mr.  M.  seems  very  desirous  to  enlighten 
the  Methodists.  This  is  very  well.  But  we  also  wish  to 
enlighten  the  Calvinists.  To  accomplish  this,  the  discussions 
on  both  sides  should  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  people  on 
both  sides.  If,  then,  some  reputable  and  extensively-circu- 
lated Calvinistic  periodical  will  publish  my  sermon,  and  the 
discussion  which  has  arisen  or  may  arise  out  of  it  on  both 
sides,  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  will  publish  Mr. 
M.'s  letters,  and  the  discussions  which  shall  follow,  provi- 
ded, always,  that  it  shall  be  submitted  to  the  respective  edi- 
tors whether  the  pieces  are  written  in  respectful  and  becom- 
ing style  and  language  ;  and  provided,  also,  that  the  Cal- 
vinistic editor  shall,  by  consenting  to  this  arrangement,  be 
considered  as  thereby  acknowledging  that  Mr.  Metcalf  is  a 
suitable  man  to  manage  the  controversy  in  behalf  of  the 
Calvinists,  and  that  you,  Messrs.  Editors,  by  consenting  to 
the  arrangement,  will  thereby  consent  that  you  are  willing 
to  trust  the  controversy  in  my  hands,  to  be  managed  in  be- 
half of  the  Methodists.  To  give  an  opportunity  for  the  Cal- 
vinistic periodical  to  be  prepared,  I  shall  wait  a  reasonable 
time,  when,  if  the  offer  is  not  complied  with,  I  shall  want  the 
privilege,  perhaps,  of  occupying  the  columns  of  the  Advo- 
25  O  o 


290 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


cate  by  the  insertion  of  a  few  numbers  touching  the  present 
Calvinistic  controversy,  both  as  relates  to  their  own  differ- 
ences, and  also  as  relates  to  the  general  question  between 
them  and  us.    Respectfully  yours,  W.  Fisk. 

"Wesleyan  University,  September  27,  1832." 

This  was  perfectly  fair.  It  would  bring  Dr.  Fisk  and  the 
Christian  Advocate  on  equal  ground  with  their  opponents. 
But  it  seems  there  were  serious  objections  to  this  arrange- 
ment. The  editor  of  the  New-York  Evangelist  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  state  them  : 

"  There  is  one  condition  he  exacts,  however,  which  we 
think  impracticable  :  it  is,  that  some  person  should  be  desig- 
nated by  a  sort  of  common  suffrage  as  the  champion  of  Cal- 
vinism. Now  the  truth  is,  Calvinists,  as  a  class,  are  rather 
remarkable  for  thinking  for  themselves  ;  and,  of  course,  while 
there  are  great  principles  on  which,  as  a  class,  they  all  agree, 
there  are  other  things  which  will  be  held  or  stated  different- 
ly by  different  minds.  Consequently,  we  can,  each  of  us, 
defend  ourselves,  and  defend  Calvinists  as  a  class,  notwith- 
standing each  one  may  think  his  fellow  holds  some  errors  ; 
and  therefore,  in  his  contest  with  Calvinism,  Dr.  Fisk  must 
assume  to  himself  the  responsibility  of  selecting  those  doc- 
trinal points  and  modes  of  statement  which  distinguish  Cal- 
vinists as  a  class  ;  and  when  he  has  found  these  principles, 
we  hope  he  will  confute  or  embrace  them."* 

This  proposition,  therefore,  not  being  accepted,  our  author 
furnished  for  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  a  succes- 
sion of  articles,  the  last  of  which  was  published  April  3d, 
1835.  They  were  read  with  great  avidity ;  and  such  was 
the  interest  felt  in  them,  that  the  Book  Agents,  soon  after 
their  completion,  issued  them  in  a  distinct  volume.  It  sold 
extensively  ;  and,  after  Dr.  Fisk's  return  from  Europe,  they 
were  republished  in  an  improved  form,  the  stereotype  plates 
having  been  destroyed  in  the  conflagration  of  the  Book  Con- 
cern in  the  winter  of  1835. 

If  the  gratification  of  your  friends  and  the  disturbance  of 
your  foes  be  alike  concessions  to  superior  power,  our  author 
*  Quoted  from  the  Calvinistic  Controversy. 


CALVINISTIC  CONTROVERSY. 


291 


received  ample  compliment  on  his  Calvinistic  Controversy. 
We  may  learn  something  of  a  general's  estimate  of  a  hostile 
army  by  his  manner  of  preparing  for  the  encounter,  the  num- 
ber and  quality  of  the  forces  he  brings  into  the  field,  and  the 
like.  After  the  array  against  him  which  we  have  mention- 
ed above,  it  would  have  been  useless  and  inconsistent  to 
deny  that  he  was  an  opponent  of  no  ordinary  power.  Ac- 
cordingly, we  find  Timothy,  in  the  introduction  of  his  article 
in  the  Boston  Telegraph,  holding  this  language  :  "  This  dis- 
course has  already  received  an  uncommon  share  of  public 
attention.  The  ability  with  which  the  sermon  is  written, 
and  the  celebrity  of  the  author,  have  given  it  a  pretty  exten- 
sive circulation ;  and  it  is  thought  by  many  that  Dr.  Fisk 
has,  in  this  discourse,  put  the  subject  of  Predestination  and 
Election  forever  at  rest,  and  that  Arminianism  has  gained  a 
complete  and  decisive  victory."  On  the  other  hand,  from 
the  friends  of  his  own  cause  our  author  received  numerous 
and  highly  flattering  testimonials,  both  by  private  communi- 
cation and  the  public  journals.  Nor  were  these  confined  to 
the  members  of  his  own  church.  The  ensuing  lines  we  ex- 
tract from  an  article,  in  which,  under  the  signature  of  "  A 
clergyman  of  another  denomination,"  an  unknown  writer 
speaks  of  one  of  Dr.  Fisk's  addresses  on  Temperance  : 

"  May  I  also  say  that  I  have  been  very  much  pleased  with 
the  doctor's  papers  on  the  Calvinistic  Controversy.  In  truth, 
I  have  seldom  read  anything  more  logical,  argumentative, 
clear,  and  conclusive.  I  should  like  much  to  see  them  in  a 
popular  form.    May  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  be  with  him." 

But  the  highest  commendation  of  the  work  is  found  in  the 
interest  with  which  the  successive  numbers  were  read,  the 
demand  for  them  in  a  separate  volume,  and  the  rapidity  and 
extent  of  its  circulation. 

Dr.  Fisk's  work  on  the  Calvinistic  Controversy  was  of 
great  service  to  the  cause  of  truth.  The  system  of  the  Ge- 
nevan reformer  had  gone  through  so  many  convolutions  as 
nearly  to  have  slipped  through  the  pincers  in  which  Wes- 
ley and  Fletcher  had  held  it.  The  ground  it  assumed  was 
ao  new,  that  the  arguments  heretofore  employed  against  it 
were  of  little  avail.    Besides,  it  now  claimed  close  affinity 


292 


LIFE   OF  WILLBTJR  FISK. 


with  Arminianism,  and  adopted  much  of  its  phraseology  and 
mode  of  preaching.  Its  advocates  themselves  seemed  to 
think  that  they  had  discovered  a  method  of  constructing  an 
Arminian  edifice  on  a  Calvinian  basis.  Some  of  our  own 
people  were  deceived  by  these  appearances,  and  really 
thought  that  Calvinists  had  shot  the  gulf.  Before  Dr.  Fisk 
entered  upon  the  work,  several  attempts  had  been  made  to 
arrest  the  evil ;  especially  Dr.  Bangs  had  published  two  vol- 
umes against  Hopkinsianism ;  and  several  writers  had  ap- 
peared in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  and  other  pe- 
riodicals. These  all  had  their  use,  but  did  not  meet  the 
present  aspects  of  the  case,  or  were  too  local  and  partial  to 
cover  the  entire  ground.  Dr.  Fisk's  work  just  supplied  the 
desideratum.  It  assailed  the  vulnerable  points  of  the  sys- 
tem with  masterly  skill.  Full  of  thought  and  information, 
adapted  to  the  times,  written  rather  in  a  popular  than  in  a 
scholastic  style,  clear,  natural,  fluent,  and  engaging,  it  inter- 
ested all  classes.  The  effect  was  most  happy.  It  convinced 
some,  at  least,  of  the  errors  it  opposed.  One  letter  espe- 
cially is  before  me,  from  a  young  man  educated  in  the  Cal- 
vinian doctrines,  who  was  delivered  by  it  from  a  dark  and 
agitated  state  of  mind,  and  peacefully  established  in  the 
views  of  Wesley.  He  afterward  graduated  at  the  Wesley- 
an  University,  and  is  now  a  promising  licentiate  in  the  min- 
istry. 

But  the  controversy  had  the  most  beneficial  influence  on 
the  Church.  It  exposed  to  view  the  real  difference  between 
the  two  theories  ;  it  settled  several  contested  points  among 
ourselves ;  it  proved  that,  though  some  Calvinists,  in  their 
anxiety  to  avoid  the  offensive  features  of  the  system,  had,  in 
effect,  explained  it  all  away,  yet  they  were  as  far  as  ever 
from  Wesleyanism,  and,  in  some  points,  far  less  evangelical 
than  Calvin,  especially  in  regard  to  human  depravity,  con- 
version, and  regeneration.  Since  this  time,  to  whatever  it 
may  be  ascribed,  the  Church  has  enjoyed  repose  ;  our  op- 
ponents, if  not  convinced,  are  at  least  silent ;  and  the  sword 
of  controversy  rests  undisturbed  in  its  scabbard.* 

*  The  Reverend  Francis  Hodgson's  acute  and  seaiching  work  is  the  only  ex- 
ception of  any  consequence  that  we  are  aware  of  to  the  above  remarks.  This 


CALVINISTIC  CONTROVERSY. 


293 


It  ought  to  be  observed,  however,  that  the  articles  were 
written  at  intervals,  as  the  author  could  secure  time  from  his 
numerous  and  imperative  engagements,  and  sent  to  press  as 
they  were  ready.  This  did  not  permit  so  minute  a  revision 
and  correction  as  they,  no  doubt,  would  have  received  had 
the  publication  been  delayed  until  all  were  finished.  The 
author  felt  these  disadvantages,  and  modestly  offers  his  apol- 
ogy in  the  advertisement. 

In  closing  this  portion  of  our  work,  we  feel  happy  in  be- 
ing able  to  say,  that  though  it  was  our  author's  lot  to  come 
into  collision  with  many  excellent  as  well  as  able  men,  he 
did  not  allow  his  heart  to  be  alienated  from  them  by  a  mere 
difference  of  opinion.  So  far  as  his  opponents  exercised  the 
appropriate  Christian  tempers,  he  still  regarded  them  as  breth- 
ren, while  he  had  many  personal  friends  in  different  branches 
of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Thus  he  exemplified  the  saying 
of  the  elder  Mason,  that  "  one  true  Christian  differs  from 
another  without  breach  of  charity,  as  friends  love  one  anoth- 
er, though  in  different  garbs."  He  frequently  remarked,  " 1 
do  not  love  my  neighbour  less  because  I  love  my  own  family 
more."  It  has  been  said  that  our  dislike  of  our  opponents 
is  in  the  direct  ratio,  not  of  their  distance  from  our  own  the- 
ory, but  of  their  propinquity  to  it.  It  was  not  so  with  Dr. 
Fisk.  He  properly  discriminated  between  the  degrees  of 
error,  and  loved  those  most  who  were  nearest  what  he  un- 
derstood to  be  the  truth.  He  adhered  to  the  only  true  ba- 
sis of  Christian  concord  : 

"  In  necessariis  unitas  ; 

u  In  non-necessariis  lenitas  ; 

"  In  omnibus  charitas." 

goes  farther  into  the  subject  than  Dr.  Fisk  intended,  and  has  done  much  towards 
setting  the  doctrines  of  New  Divinity,  as  it  is  called,  in  their  proper  light. 

25* 


294 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Official  Conduct. — Disinterestedness. — Revival. — Sickness. — Death  of  Judge 
Deming. — Education. — Letters. — Theological  and  Missionary  Education. — 
Future  Punishment  believed  by  the  Jews. — Writings  and  Literature. — Mode 
of  Instruction. — Intercourse  with  the  Students. 

Dr.  Fisk's  labours  in  the  University  were  all  the  time 
steadily  increasing.  The  number  of  students  was  now 
about  one  hundred,  but  the  care  and  responsibility  had  in- 
creased in  a  very  disproportionate  ratio.  This  arose  partly 
from  the  infancy  of  the  institution,  and  partly  from  its  pecu- 
liar organization.  The  system  adopted  was  much  more  per- 
plexing to  the  faculty  than  the  old  plan  ;  it  required  a  much 
stricter  personal  vigilance  ;  it  brought  the  students  into  closer 
contact  with  the  officers,  especially  with  the  president,  and, 
of  course,  made  larger  draughts  upon  his  time.  Besides,  Dr. 
Fisk  was  always  opposed  to  governing  by  a  system  of  stat- 
utes and  precedents.  The  government  of  a  college  is,  in  its 
essential  elements,  paternal  ;  and  in  a  family  it  would  be 
ruinous  to  govern  by  a  minute  system  of  inflexible  law.  The 
mode  of  treatment  must  be  varied,  to  meet  the  variety  of 
characters  and  dispositions  composing  the  household.  Thus 
our  subject  believed  that,  while  there  should  be  certain  gen- 
eral principles,  as  invariable  as  possible,  the  president  of  a 
college  should  exercise  his  discretion,  to  a  greater  extent 
than  is  usually  done,  in  the  treatment  of  different  cases  and 
persons.  This  system  has  important  advantages,  but  it  ren- 
ders the  situation  of  a  presiding  officer  much  more  diffi- 
cult. To  carry  it  out  fully  and  safely  requires  great  dis- 
crimination, tact,  and  promptitude ;  but  Dr.  Fisk  possessed 
these  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  hence  he  succeeded  to  an 
extent  to  which  few  would  have  done  in  the  same  situation. 

His  control  over  the  students  was  almost  unbounded.  He 
commanded  to  an  uncommon  extent  the  two  affections  ab- 
solutely essential  to  success  in  his  position,  reverence  and 
attachment.    A  word  from  him  was  generally  enough.  If 


OFFICIAL  CONDUCT.  DISINTERESTEDNESS.  295 


he  had  occasion  to  correct  any  little  impropriety  by  public 
remarks  in  the  chapel,  it  was  done  in  such  a  manner  as 
rarely  to  need  repeating.  He  was  very  seldom  severe,  oc- 
casionally sarcastic,  often  witty  and  humorous,  just  so  as  to 
turn  the  laugh  upon  the  offending  person  ;  generally  he  was 
mild  and  gentle,  but  never  harsh  nor  angry.  His  perfect  self- 
command  always  sustained  his  dignity  of  character,  and  com- 
manded respect.  Cases  of  irregularity  would  of  course  oc- 
cur ;  but  he  would  talk  to  the  offender  in  such  a  manner  as 
generally  to  subdue  him,  and  often  bring  him  to  penitence. 
The  number  dismissed  was  remarkably  small.  He  was  not 
accustomed  to  mention  the  faults  or  misdemeanours  of  the 
students  out  of  college,  even  to  his  own  family ;  and  when 
asked  the  reason  of  his  reserve,  he  replied,  "  I  wish  the 
young  gentlemen  to  reinstate  themselves  in  my  confidence, 
and  I  give  them  the  opportunity  ;  but  if  I  mention  it  abroad, 
and  they  hear  of  it,  they  will  not  make  the  effort."  Indeed, 
the  students  regarded  him  as  a  friend.  They  went  to  him 
for  advice,  for  sympathy,  and  for  aid  in  their  difficulties  with 
perfect  freedom  and  confidence.  When  sick,  he  not  only 
prayed  with  and  for  them,  but  attended  to  their  wants  and 
comfort,  and  ministered  to  them  with  his  own  hands.  These 
things  consumed  a  large  share  of  his  time,  but  it  secured  his 
object,  the  safety  and  success  of  the  institution. 

We  have  already  had  proof  of  his  disinterestedness.  No 
man  could  have  had  less  regard  to  lucre  ;  he  did  not  even 
receive  what  was  proper  and  necessary  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  his  station.  On  accepting  the  presidency  of  the 
Wesleyan  University,  he  refused  a  part  of  the  salary  offered 
him  by  the  trustees,  not,  however,  from  contracted  views, 
but  from  prudential  reasons ;  but  he  found  it  inadequate,  and 
received  afterward  an  addition,  but  never  more  than  a  mod- 
erate sufficiency  for  his  unavoidable  expenses. 

But  his  disinterestedness  appeared  in  a  form  still  more 
unequivocal  and  elevated,  in  his  superiority,  namely,  to  the 
claims  of  reputation.  He  laboured  with  a  single  eye,  with 
a  pure  intention.  He  did  not  ask,  How  will  it  affect  my- 
self ?  but  Will  it  do  good  ?  When  he  came  to  Middletown, 
some  one  advised  him  not  to  preach  often,  lest  familiarity 


296 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


should  abate  the  interest  in  him,  but  to  reserve  himself  for 
great  or  important  occasions.  But  to  such  worldly  wisdom 
he  was  an  utter  stranger.  Such  arts  of  self-seeking  and  rep- 
utation hunting  he  never  practised.  They  were  beneath  him. 
Where  there  was  need  of  labourers,  he  rushed  to  the  field, 
no  matter  whether  the  congregation  was  large  and  imposing, 
or  small  and  obscure.  Some  of  his  ablest  sermons,  of  al- 
most overwhelming  power,  were  preached  in  little  village 
churches,  in  country  school-houses,  and  to  rustic  audiences. 
Nor  was  he  sparing  in  his  labours.  When  at  home,  he  sel- 
dom spent  an  idle  Sabbath.  Though  he  never  used  notes  in 
the  pulpit,  yet  he  often  preached  on  an  emergency,  and  fre- 
quently was  so  engrossed  with  other  duties  as  to  have  no 
leisure  to  prepare  himself  properly  for  the  pulpit.  If  by  this 
course  he  did  not  attain  to  quite  the  eminence  he  might  have 
done  otherwise  as  a  brilliant  pulpit  orator,  he  gained,  what 
is  much  more  dear  to  the  devout  spirit  of  a  true  minister  of 
Christ,  the  entire  affection  and  confidence  of  the  Christian 
public. 

Dr.  Fisk  always  felt  the  importance  of  maintaining  an  as- 
cendant religious  influence  in  the  institution.  Nor  was  it  an 
inactive  and  fruitless  conviction.  He  spared  no  pains  to 
foster  it.  He  frequently  preached  to  the  students  in  the  chap- 
el before  regular  service  was  established.  In  his  private 
conversations  and  reproofs  for  delinquencies,  he  gave,  though 
always  with  judgment  and  good  taste,  a  suitable  prominence 
to  religious  considerations.  Such  appeals,  sustained  by  his 
own  personal  example,  gave  an  elevation  to  his  views  and 
a  weight  to  his  admonitions  that  rendered  them  more  effect- 
ive. An  illustration  of  his  solicitude  to  secure  an  influential 
religious  example  it  is  thus  in  our  power  to  present.  It  was 
always,  as  we  have  elsewhere  remarked,  particularly  inju- 
rious to  him  to  rise,  especially  to  be  in  the  open  air,  in  the 
morning  long  before  breakfast  ;  it  invariably  aggravated  his 
cough  and  expectoration.  Yet  when  he  came  to  Middle- 
town,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  attending  morning 
prayers  in  the  chapel  at  six  o'clock ;  and  it  was  only  at  the 
urgent  solicitation  of  the  professors  that  he  consented  to  de- 
sist.   When  he  had  thus  sufficiently  proved  his  anxiety  to 


REVIVAL  AT  THE  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY.  297 


fulfil  every  duty,  and  secured  the  influence  it  gave  him,  he 
yielded  to  entreaty,  and  ever  after  regularly  officiated  in  the 
daily  service  of  the  chapel  only  in  the  evening. 

Of  the  students  in  the  Wesleyan  University,  a  large  pro- 
portion, generally  more  than  one  half,  were  professors  of  re- 
ligion, and  many  of  them  of  more  mature  age  and  character 
than  is  usual  in  colleges  ;  yet,  notwithstanding  his  exer- 
tions, the  president  often  lamented  the  comparative  unfruit- 
fulness  of  his  ministerial  labours,  and  had  "  great  searchings 
of  heart"  as  to  the  reason.  But  in  the  spring  of  1834,  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  was  held  in  the  church  in  town,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Bartholomew  Creagh.  Dr.  Fisk  felt 
it  to  be  a  time  of  interest  and  of  great  importance.  The 
evening  the  meeting  commenced,  he  gathered  his  family 
around  the  domestic  altar,  and  having  read  a  portion  of 
Scripture,  he  observed,  "  I  have  never  laboured  so  long  any- 
where as  here,  without  special  evidence  that  God  owned  my 
labours  by  the  outpouring  of  his  Holy  Spirit.  Can  it  be  that 
by  this  God  means  to  indicate  that  I  am  not  in  the  path  of 
duty  ?  I  do  not  feel  that  my  own  soul  has  lost  any  of  its  fer- 
vour ;  but  the  University — the  souls  in  the  University !" 

"  In  prayer,"  says  Mrs.  Fisk,  from  whom  I  have  this  inci- 
dent, "  in  prayer  he  was  very  fervent.  One  expression  I 
well  remember  :  '  I  ask  not  to  be  the  honoured  instrument ; 
only  give  me  a  token  that  thou  dost  own  the  University.'  " 
His  prayer  was  answered,  and  he  had  the  supreme  satisfac- 
tion, in  a  few  weeks,  to  forward  the  annexed  communication 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  March  12, 1834. 

"  Dear  Brethren, 

"  I  have  the  inexpressible  happiness  of  communicating  to 
you  the  cheering  intelligence  of  a  blessed  work  of  grace  in 
the  Wesleyan  University.  This  is  the  first  general  revival 
we  have  had  since  the  institution  was  opened.  Although 
we  have  had  a  great  proportion  of  pious  students  from  the 
beginning,  still  those  who  entered  in  an  unconverted  state 
have  generally  remained  so,  and  in  some  instances  the  piety 
of  the  professing  students  had  evidently  declined.    This  was, 

Pp 


298 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


to  us,  a  matter  of  great  grief  and  special  solicitude.  The 
University  was  established  by  the  Church  for  the  good  of  the 
world,  and  especially  for  the  advancement  of  the  Redeem- 
er's cause  ;  and  to  experience  no  spiritual  refreshings  for 
more  than  two  years  seemed  peculiarly  inauspicious.  The 
young  men  were  moral,  regular  in  their  habits,  remarkably 
correct  in  their  general  deportment,  active  in  the  cause  of 
temperance,  of  missions,  and  of  other  benevolent  enterprises; 
but  all  this,  commendable  as  it  was,  did  not  come  up  to  the 
important  standard,  personal  holiness  of  heart  and  life.  But 
God  had  not  forgotten  us.  He  has  at  length  visited  us  in 
great  mercy.  A  few  of  our  students  are  absent.  Of  those 
who  are  present,  but  very  few,  perhaps  but  three  or  four,  can 
be  found  who  profess  not  to  have  obtained  peace  in  believ- 
ing, or  are  not  earnestly  pressing  after  it.  The  work,  in 
most  cases,  seems  to  be  thorough  and  deep.  So  great  has 
been  the  interest  for  the  last  two  weeks,  we  have  been  obli- 
ged partially,  and  some  days  almost  wholly,  to  suspend  our 
regular  college  duties,  and  our  college  edifices  have  resound- 
ed with  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise. 

"  Although  all  who  are  acquainted  with  our  literary  insti- 
tutions know  that  here,  as  elsewhere,  there  are  snares  and 
temptations  for  the  inexperienced  youth — so  that  we  rejoice 
with  trembling — yet  I  cannot  but  believe  that  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  young  men  have  here,  within  a  few  days,  been  brought 
to  a  state  of  feeling  and  a  course  of  action  that  will  be  pro- 
ductive of  lasting  advantage  to  themselves,  and,  through 
them,  to  others.  What  an  interesting  consideration  is  this  ! 
and  how  strongly  does  it  recommend  our  literary  institutions 
to  the  patronage  of  the  Church.  This  is  a  point  to  which  I 
strongly  suspect  the  attention  of  the  Church  has  not  been 
sufficiently  directed.  Let  one  fact  speak  on  this  subject. 
To  say  nothing  of  the  advantages  of  our  seminaries  to  those 
who  are  already  pious,  and  of  the  moral  and  religious  influ- 
ence that  has  been  thrown  over  others,  I  have  the  means  of 
knowing  that  about  three  sevenths  of  all  the  students  of  this 
University  have  become  pious  either  here,  or  at  one  of  our 
academies  before  they  entered  here.  Thus  religion  and  lit- 
erature have  met  together  in  the  very  cases  in  which  there  is 


EFFECT  OF  HIS  EXERTIONS  ON  HIS  HEALTH. 


299 


the  greatest  hope  for  the  cause  of  God — in  young  men  who 
are  training  and  girding  themselves  for  the  great  enterprise 
of  subduing  the  world  to  Christ.  And  will  our  friends  look 
on  and  see  our  institutions  languish  for  the  want  of  the  ne- 
cessary funds,  when  God  is  showering  salvation  upon  them  ? 
And  will  our  pious  members  hesitate  to  send  their  children 
here  for  fear  of  injury  to  their  souls,  when  it  is  here  that  God 
blesses  them  ?   Brethren,  inquire  what  is  duty  in  this  matter. 

"I  will  just  observe,  in  conclusion,  that  the  work  in  the 
University  has  been  in  connexion  with  a  gracious  revival  in 
the  town,  of  which  our  beloved  brother  Creagh,  preacher  in 
charge,  will  doubtless  give  a  more  particular  account. 

"W.  Fisk." 

By  his  labours  during  this  season  of  uncommon  interest, 
Dr.  Fisk's  health  was  greatly  prostrated.  It  was  still  farther 
affected  by  an  excursion,  immediately  after  the  meeting  clo- 
sed, to  New-London,  to  solicit  funds  for  the  institution,  and 
still  more  by  the  arduous  duties  devolving  on  him  at  the 
New- England  Conference,  which  took  place  soon  after.  On 
his  return  home,  though  really  unfit  to  be  out  of  bed,  he  in- 
sisted on  fulfilling  an  appointment,  which  he  had  sent  on  be- 
fore him,  to  preach  in  the  chapel  to  the  students.  This  suc- 
cession of  tasks  upon  his  strength  was  entirely  too  much. 
He  was  now  seized  with  a  violent  attack  of  peripneumony, 
which  confined  him  to  his  chamber  for  several  weeks :  yet 
he  could  not  desist  from  work.  During  his  illness  he  re- 
ceived unpleasant  intelligence  of  some  kind  from  Wilbraham 
Academy  that  required  prompt  attention.  Unable  to  sit  up 
in  bed,  yet  supported  by  pillows,  Mrs.  Fisk  guiding  his 
emaciated  hand,  he  penned  an  answer  to  the  communica- 
tion. Such  was  the  spirit  in  which  he  lived.  Take  another 
instance  :  Before  he  was  entirely  recovered  from  this  illness, 
the  annual  examination  of  the  students  of  the  University  took 
place.  Too  feeble  to  walk,  he  would  be  carried  up  morning 
and  afternoon  each  day,  attending  an  hour  or  so  at  a  time, 
as  he  was  able  to  bear  it.  On  Mrs.  Fisk's  expostulating 
with  him  about  it,  he  replied,  "  I  wish  to  know  for  myself 
the  standing  both  of  professors  and  students ;  and  at  this 


300  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

time  I  feel  called  upon  to  use  all  the  exertion  I  can  make, 
and  then  cast  myself  on  the  providential  care  of  God."  But 
such  exposures  of  health  and  life,  though  they  arise  from  a 
lofty  sense  of  duty  and  noble  elements  of  character,  trespass 
on  the  verge  of  prudence,  and  are  not  commended  for  imi- 
tation ;  but  our  subject  seemed  to  go  on  the  theory  that  he 
would  not  hold  any  situation  in  which  he  could  not  do  all 
that  was  necessary  to  give  it  efficiency.  He  acted  on  the 
principle  that  "  That  life  is  long  which  answers  life's  great 
end."  From  the  effects  of  this  illness  Mrs.  Fisk  thinks  he 
never  entirely  recovered. 

In  the  summer  of  1834  Dr.  Fisk  met  with  a  severe  afflic- 
tion in  the  death  of  his  friend  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Franklin 
Deming.  The  attachment  between  these,  in  many  respects, 
kindred  spirits,  was  similar  to  that  of  David  and  Jonathan. 
The  previous  year  Judge  Deming  was  elected  a  member  of 
Congress,  and  consequently  spent  the  winter  in  Washing- 
ton. While  there  his  health  failed,  and  on  the  adjournment 
of  Congress  he  proceeded  homeward  as  far  as  Saratoga 
Springs,  where  he  purposed  spending  a  few  days,  in  hope  of 
deriving  aid  from  the  water.  But,  alas  !  no  Hygeian  spring 
could  avail.  He  took  to  his  bed,  and  died  far  from  home, 
surrounded  by  strangers.  But  he  was  a  devout  Christian, 
had  retained  his  religious  confidence  and  fervour  unimpair- 
ed through  the  trying  scenes  of  a  Congressional  career,  and 
died  in  humble  reliance  upon  the  Saviour,  and  in  full  assu- 
rance of  a  blissful  immortality.  Dr.  Fisk  received  the  ac- 
count of  his  friend's  departure  while  on  a  journey  to  visit 
his  parents  at  Lyndon.  He  was  deeply  affected  by  it.  "  He 
never  afterward,"  says  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  heard  Judge  Deming's 
name  without  painful  emotion.  More  than  once,  when  I  al- 
luded to  him,  he  said,  i  The  loss  of  Judge  Deming  has  made 
a  vacuum  in  my  heart  which  can  never  be  filled.  On  earth 
to  me  his  place  is  blank.  But  it  is  all  well.  I  love  to  think 
of  him  in  heaven.'  " 

From  Lyndon  he  addressed  the  subjoined  letter,  though 
still  very  feeble,  to  the  bereaved  widow  of  his  friend,  resi- 
ding at  Danville : 


EFFORTS  IN  BEHALF  OF  EDUCATION. 


301 


"  Lyndon,  August  6,  1834. 

"  My  dear  Sister, 

"  I  had  purposed  to  visit  you  before  I  returned,  but  poor 
health  and  want  of  time  will  prevent.  I  need  not  tell  you 
how  sensibly  I  felt  the  loss  of  your  lamented  husband,  and 
how  my  heart  bled,  not  only  for  myself,  but  also  for  you.  I 
feared  the  burden  would  be  more  than  you  could  bear ;  but 
how  happy  am  I  to  learn  from  Mr.  Cook  that  our  heavenly 
Father,  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb,  has  gra- 
ciously sustained  you  in  this  hour  of  trial.  I  desire  to  be 
most  thankful  in  your  behalf  for  this  special  favour.  May 
this  affliction,  my  dear  sister,  be  the  means  of  your  entire 
sanctification  to  that  God  that  you  profess  to  serve.  This 
is,  indeed,  a  great  loss — an  irreparable  loss  ;  but  then  it  may 
be  a  great  blessing — the  greatest  blessing,  perhaps,  that  you 
ever  experienced. 

"  You  have  now  a  double  duty  to  perform  for  your  dear 
children ;  may  you  have  wisdom  to  direct.  If  I  can  afford 
you  any  assistance  as  counsel  in  the  education  of  your  chil- 
dren, you  may  command  my  services. 

"  We  had  not  heard  of  your  dear  husband's  death  until  I 
left  home,  but  I  wrote  to  Mrs.  F.  immediately.  I  need  not 
tell  you  she  will  sympathize  with  you  deeply,  and  will  pray 
for  you. 

"  My  kind  regards  to  your  dear  children,  and  believe  me 
your  affectionate  and  sympathizing  friend  and  Christian 
brother,  W.  Fisk." 

The  cause  of  education  in  the  Methodist  community  had 
now  received  an  impulse  which  was  felt  to  the  utmost  bounds 
of  the  connexion.  Yet  it  touched  the  more  prominent  mem- 
bers rather  than  vivified  the  whole  body.  Dr.  Fisk  rejoiced 
greatly  at  what  was  done,  but  still  lamented  that  it  was  so 
little  compared  with  our  obligations.  Speaking  of  the  slow 
progress  of  the  cause  in  general,  and  in  particular  of  the  dif- 
ficulty of  obtaining  funds  for  the  Wesleyan  University,  he 
remarked,  in  a  letter  to  the  Reverend  Chauncey  Richardson,* 
"  Something  must  be  done,  or  we  are  thrown  into  the  back- 
ground as  a  denomination.  Our  people  are  not  half  awake. 
*  Now  president  of  the  college  at  Rutersville,  Texas. 

26 


302 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Their  contributions  for  this  great  object  are  as  meager  as 
the  leakage  of  a  miser's  purse."  Again  :  "  We  must  keep 
*his  subject  alive  until  we  wake  up  a  spirit  of  enterprise  that 
will  sleep  no  more.  Religion  and  education,  bound  together 
in  their  native  affinities,  and  their  operations  in  unison,  must 
save  the  Church  and  must  save  the  nation." 

His  views  were  enlarged  and  comprehensive.  From  his 
peculiar  position,  he  had  abundant  opportunity  of  learning 
the  condition  and  wants  of  the  Western  and  Southern  States 
in  regard  to  education  and  intelligence  ;  and  deeply  was  his 
heart  affected  by  the  pictures  often  presented  to  his  view. 
From  every  direction  letters  came  thronging  to  him,  chiefly 
from  the  West,  beseeching  him  to  aid  them,  and  especially 
to  furnish  them  with  suitable  instructers.  These  things  in- 
duced him  to  write  a  spirited  article,  inserted  in  the  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal,  under  date  of  April  11th,  1834, 
headed  "  Supply  of  Teachers  for  the  West,"  which  brought 
an  article  from  another  hand,  signed  "  A  Voice  from  the 
South,"  claiming  equal  consideration  in  that  section.  Among 
his  acquaintances  and  the  students  of  the  University  he  used 
great  exertion,  and  many  are  the  teachers  sent  through  his 
instrumentality  into  those  regions.  Many,  perhaps  I  might 
say  most,  of  the  colleges  and  academies  in  the  country  under 
Methodist  influence  have  beeu  furnished  with  instructers,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  from  the  Wesleyan  University,  including 
two  in  the  Faculty  of  Victoria  College,  recently  established 
in  Upper  Canada,  to  say  nothing  of  the  number  engaged  in 
private  schools  or  as  domestic  teachers.  Indeed,  it  is  not 
known  that  a  single  graduate  of  the  institution  is  otherwise 
than  honourably  engaged  in  some  useful  occupation.  Thus 
Dr.  Fisk  so  far  has  had  his  wishes  fulfilled.  True,  part  of 
these  results  have  followed  since  his  death,  but  we  still  may 
justly  lay  them  to  the  credit  of  his  influence  and  exertions. 

The  spirit  and  motives  which  actuated  him  may  be  still 
farther  seen  in  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  Miss  Susan  Brew- 
er, now  Mrs.  Thomas,  of  Louisiana,  who  went  out  under  his 
recommendation  to  Alabama  as  a  teacher,  and  is  well  known 
and  esteemed  for  her  labours  in  various  institutions  in  the 
South  in  that  capacity.    The  letter  was  written  August  10, 


VIEWS  IN  CONNEXION   WITH  EDUCATION. 


303 


1831,  but  I  reserved  it  for  this  place  in  consequence  of  its 
appropriateness  to  the  present  topic. 

"  I  wish  we  could  fill  that  new  country  with  sound  pious 
teachers.  Indeed,  I  want  to  send  out  enough  to  set  the 
world  on  fire !  I  have  done  educating  youths  for  themselves  ; 
my  sole  object,  I  think,  will  be,  hereafter,  to  educate  all  I 
can  get  for  the  world.  I  can  do  but  little  myself,  but  per- 
haps I  may  be  able  to  stir  up  the  fire  of  a  few  young  hearts, 
who  will  burn  their  way  through  this  dark,  wicked  world ! 
My  heart  burns  in  this  work,  and  the  fervour  increases  from 
year  to  year.  O,  what  a  work  lies  before  us  !  Who  is  on 
the  Lord's  side  ?  Would  to  God  I  could  train  up  an  army  to 
march  against  the  powers  of  darkness  and  spiritual  wicked- 
ness in  high  places  !  See  the  opening  doors  for  doing  good 
all  over  the  world!  And  yet  the  Church  sleeps  on,  and  the 
rising  generation  are  educated  for  self!  poor  little  self! 
Never  !  never  shall  we  see  the  world  renewed  until  this 
blighting  mildew,  this  withering  curse,  is  removed  from  the 
Church." 

To  Mr.  George  H.  Round,  a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity. 

"  January  12,  1835. 
"  That  you  are  employed  profitably  to  yourself  and  to  the 
world,  is  the  only  recompense  you  can  receive  for  your  past 
toils,  and  the  only  recompense  you  can  make  to  the  world  for 
the  privileges  you  have  enjoyed  and  do  still  enjoy  in  it.  So 
far  as  the  human  race  are  concerned  in  their  relations  to  each 
other,  we  are  all  mutually  debtors  and  creditors,  and  the 
only  way  to  keep  the  account  balanced  is  to  go  to  the  extent 
of  our  ability  both  in  obtaining  and  communicating.  The 
more  we  obtain,  the  more  we  can  communicate ;  and  the  more 
we  can  communicate,  the  more  we  can  obtain.  This  is  the 
circulation  of  the  life-blood  of  society.  When  it  is  complete, 
the  state  of  society  is  perfect;  when  it  is  checked,  society 
suffers,  but  not  so  much  as  the  individual  member  in  whom 
the  suspension  occurs.  Wo  be  to  him !  he  perishes  in  and 
by  his  own  accumulations.    The  healthful  action  of  his  own 


304 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


soul  ceases  ;  mortification  takes  place  ;  and,  although  he 
struggles  a  while  in  this  violence  to  the  law  of  his  being,  the 
action  is  morbid  and  painful  to  himself,  and  he  finally  dies, 
a  corrupt  and  offensive  appendage  of  the  social  system. 
Rather  than  die  such  a  social  and  moral  death,  let  us  endure 
all  kinds  of  labour  and  privation.  Man  may  cast  me  off  and 
persecute  me,  but  he  never  can  destroy  my  earthly  happi- 
ness until  he  checks  the  current  of  benevolence  in  my  heart, 
and  robs  me  of  the  privilege  of  loving  him  and  serving  him. 
Can  he  ever  do  this  ?" 

Progression  in  whatever  he  was  engaged  was  Dr.Fisk's 
continual  aim  ;  stagnation  was  his  utter  abhorrence.  From 
the  first  establishment  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  he  medi- 
tated a  carrying  out  of  the  full  provisions  of  the  charter. 
"With  this  view  he  desired  to  see  erected  in  the  institution  a 
department  of  law,  and  another  of  medicine.  With  a  view 
to  the  former,  he  wrote  to  Thomas  Chapman,  Esq.,  the  liber- 
al benefactor  of  the  University,  to  ascertain  whether  he  would 
accept  a  professorship,  and  organize  a  law  department.  But, 
from  his  professional  engagements,  joined  to  the  health  of  his 
family,  he  was  induced  to  decline.  He  also  wrote  to  his  ex- 
cellent friend,  Dr.  Sewall,  of  Washington  (D.  C),  asking  his 
advice  as  to  the  establishment  of  a  medical  college,  and  re- 
questing his  services  as  professor.  He  received  a  very  judi- 
cious and  candid  answer,  entirely  discouraging  the  project. 
The  reasons  were  chiefly  the  great  expense  and  risk  attending 
it,  and  the  danger  of  multiplying  such  institutions  too  fast ;  the 
greater  advantages  of  large  cities  for  pursuing  the  medical 
studies,  especially  surgery,  and  the  superiority  of  a  few  insti- 
tutions on  an  extended  scale,  over  a  great  number  feebly  sus- 
tained. These  views  as  to  the  medical  school  were  deci- 
sive. A  department  of  law,  however,  has  been  recently 
added,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Hon.  William  L.  Storrs. 

Another  topic  belongs  to  this  period  of  our  history,  on 
which  it  may  be  expected  that  our  subject's  views  would  be 
presented.  The  spirit  of  improvement  which  had  been 
awakened  in  our  ministry  had  led  to  the  agitation  of  the  The- 
ological School  Question.  From  his  ardent  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  general  education,  and  his  desire  to  elevate  the 


VIEWS  ON  THEOLOGICAL  EDUCATION. 


305 


standard  of  ministerial  attainments,  many  entertained  no 
doubt  that  Dr.  Fisk  would  cordially  advocate  such  institu- 
tions. But  he  had  strong  objections  to  them,  partly  as  op- 
posed to  the  feelings  of  the  Methodist  community,  and  partly 
as  incompatible  with  our  organization  and  economy.  Yet 
he  thought  that  arrangements  might  be  made,  in  connexion 
with  our  colleges,  for  the  improvement  of  young  minis- 
ters, answering  very  nearly  to  the  Theological  Institution  of 
our  British  brethren.  But  we  are  enabled  to  lay  before  the 
reader  his  views,  pretty  fully  expressed  in  two  letters  on  the 
subject,  addressed,  one  to  the  Rev.  Martin  P.  Parks,  now  of 
the  P.  E.  Church,  and  recently  elected  Bishop  of  Alabama, 
and  the  other  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Stringfield.  The  reader 
will  see  that  there  is  some  difference  in  the  date,  but  as  they 
relate  to  the  same  subject,  we  introduce  them  together.  The 
former  was  written  when  the  subject  was  just  broached ;  in 
the  latter  his  views  are  more  matured. 

"  Middletown,  December  17,  1833. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  esteemed  favour  arrived  as  I  was  on  the  eve  of 
my  departure  to  visit  Captain  Wyeth  in  reference  to  the  Or- 
egon Mission,  an  account  of  which  you  have  doubtless  seen 
in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal.  My  absence,  and 
the  bringing  up  of  arrears  in  my  official  duties  since  my  re- 
turn, have  delayed  a  reply  until  now  ;  and,  now  that  I  have 
taken  up  my  pen,  I  know  not  what  to  say.  I  can  indeed  re- 
spond to  your  statements,  that,  as  a  whole,  our  ministry  is  in 
many  respects  greatly  deficient ;  and,  what  is  to  me  a  mat- 
ter of  deeper  and  more  fearful  interest,  that  deficiency  will 
be  felt  more  in  twenty  years  than  it  now  is,  from  the  fact 
that,  while  society  in  general  is  advancing,  we  receive  min- 
isters on  our  old  standards,  and  educate  them  in  the  old 
way ;  and  hence  shall  raise  up  men  of  precisely  the  same 
character,  to  operate  upon  a  material  which,  by  the  changes 
in  society,  is  of  a  very  different  character.  The  odds 
against  us,  moreover,  in  future,  wrill  be  the  greater,  from  the 
fact,  that  while  other  denominations  have  lost  nothing  of  their 
former  intellectual  and  professional  preparation,  they  have 
26*  Q  Q 


306 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


gained  much  in  zeal  and  industry.  The  zeal  and  industry 
of  the  Methodist  preachers  formerly,  notwithstanding  their 
ignorance,  gave  them  an  ascendancy  in  the  ecclesiastical 
field  over  the  ministers  of  other  denominations,  notwithstand- 
ing their  knowledge.  But  let  the  latter  possess  both,  and  the 
former  only  retain  the  one,  and  they  are  unquestionably  su- 
perseded. This  is  the  crisis  towards  which  we  are  rapidly 
tending.  The  inquiry  is,  How  can  the  present  and  the  still 
greater  coming  evil  be  remedied  or  prevented  ?  Now  if  it 
were  judged  best,  in  abstract  theory,  to  have  theological  sem- 
inaries, it  would  not  be  best  to  attempt  their  establishment 
at  present,  and  that  for  several  reasons.  First.  We  could 
not  command  the  means  to  establish  them.  Second.  We 
could  not  furnish  the  men  to  take  the  direction  and  control 
of  them.  Third.  An  attempt  to  get  up  such  institutions 
would  raise  the  popular  cry  in  our  Church  against  all  our 
literary  institutions,  and  would,  I  fear,  ruin  them.  There  is 
one  way,  however,  in  which  this  evil  may  in  part,  at  least,  be 
remedied,  and  this  is  a  method  which  I  have  practised 
ever  since  I  have  been  concerned  in  our  institutions.  Let 
all  the  members  of  our  colleges  and  academies  who  design 
entering  the  ministry  be  formed  into  voluntary  classes,  to 
have  exercises  weekly  or  oftener,  consisting  of  written 
themes,  lectures,  and  familiar  discussions  on  doctrine,  Bib- 
lical criticism,  Church  government,  pastoral  duties,  and  pulpit 
exercises.  Let  the  president  and  such  of  the  professors  as 
are  skilled  in  these  topics  give  their  services  to  this  noble 
work.  Soon,  perhaps,  we  can  introduce  theological  profes- 
sors into  our  colleges,  and  may  induce  many  of  our  gradu- 
ates to  reside  a  year  or  two  at  the  college  after  graduation, 
to  study  their  profession.  In  this  way  we  shall  gradually 
introduce  a  change  in  the  ministerial  profession  among  us, 
which  cannot  fail,  by  direct  and  indirect  influences,  to  affect 
the  whole  body.  This  work  may  be  commenced  at  once. 
If  it  has  not  been  done  in  your  college  before,  you  can  com- 
mence it  the  very  day  you  receive  this  suggestion,  if  you  ap- 
prove of  it.  If  we  cannot  do  all  we  would,  we  can  do  some- 
thing ;  and  every  inch  gained  gives  so  much  enlargement 
for  future  action ;  and,  in  time,  we  shall  mould  the  public 


VIEWS  ON  THEOLOGICAL  EDUCATION. 


307 


mind  to  our  purpose,  and  shall  secure  pecuniary  means,  and 
efficient  instructers,  and  willing  pupils." 

To  the  Rev.  Thos.  Slringfield. 

"  Middletown,  February  13,  1835. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  It  is  the  general  opinion  here,  I  think,  both  among  the 
learned  and  the  unlearned,  that  our  young  men  ought  to  be 
better  instructed  in  theology,  as  well  as  in  general  science 
and  literature,  than  they  usually  are  when  they  enter  the  min- 
istry, and  better  than  they  can  be  without  some  one  to  in- 
struct them. 

"  But  it  is  the  general  opinion  with  us  that  this  instruction 
can  be  better  given  in  the  literary  institutions  than  in  any 
separate  school :  this  is  decidedly  my  opinion.    When  we 
see  how  greatly  deficient  we  are,  as  a  body,  in  the  knowledge 
of  Scripture  theology,  and  when  we  see  how  difficult  it  is  to 
get  this  knowledge  after  entering  the  ministry,  how  can  I 
doubt,  and  how  can  any  one  doubt,  but  that  they  should  be 
better  educated  beforehand  ?    The  old  theory,  you  know,  is, 
that  the  young  men  should,  while  on  trial  and  while  deacons, 
be  placed  with  experienced  fathers,  who  should  teach  them. 
This  is  what  some  have  called  the  1  Old  Methodist  Theolo- 
gical Seminary. 1    However  well  this  may  sound  in  theory, 
you  and  I  very  well  know  how  it  operates.    In  these  days 
of  practical  philosophy,  it  is  the  working  of  a  principle  that 
gives  it  credit.    This  is  true  in  general ;  but  I  fear  we  are 
not  such  good  philosophers.    We  call  our  machinery  perfect, 
and  have  persisted  against  all  experience.    The  fact  is,  and 
we  ought  to  know  it,  the  constitution  and  exigences  of  the 
itinerant  connexion  are  such,  that  it  can  never  take  the  raw 
material,  and  work  it  up  to  that  extent  and  in  that  degree  of 
perfection  which  is  imperiously  demanded  ;  much  less  can 
it  do  it  in  its  present  condition  ;  for  the  machinery  which  is 
relied  upon  to  accomplish  this  is  itself  in  so  unfinished  a 
state,  that  in  many  of  its  parts  it  is  but  little  advanced  be- 
yond the  raw  material.    The  only  question,  therefore,  that 
remains  to  be  decided,  is,  How  can  this  preparatory  knowl- 
edge be  best  imparted  ?    I  propose  our  literary  institutions 
for  this  object;  among  other  reasons  are  the  following: 


308 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"1,  It  will  be  a  great  saving  of  expense.  In  our  literary 
seminaries  we  have  the  buildings,  the  libraries,  the  teachers, 
already  prepared.  To  get  up  and  support  separate  estab- 
lishments would  almost  double  the  expense.  The  attempt, 
therefore,  in  the  present  condition  of  these  seminaries,  would 
be  likely  to  ruin  both. 

u  2.  By  having  an  experienced  and  well-educated  minister 
in  these  seminaries,  this  work  can  be  accomplished  to  all 
needful  extent. 

"  3.  It  will  be  a  saving  of  time  to  the  young  men,  who 
can  thus  mingle  the  study  of  theology  with  their  other  pur- 
suits. It  will  become  a  part  of  their  miscellaneous  reading; 
and,  in  hours  of  relaxation,  of  their  conversation.  Mind, 
acting  upon  mind,  will  elicit  truth  almost  incidentally,  and 
there  will  always  be  one  to  whom  they  might  appeal  to  set- 
tle all  doubtful  questions. 

"  4.  In  this  way,  too,  we  shall  not  be  so  much  in  danger 
of  carrying  speculation  too  far,  so  as  to  make  the  instruc- 
tion result  in  dogmatism,  and  lead  to  the  spinning  out  of  new 
theories,  as  is  the  case  sometimes  in  theological  seminaries. 

"  5.  In  this  way  we  should  throw  a  greater  amount  of  salt 
into  our  literary  fountains,  and  thus  get  new  and  promising 
candidates  for  the  ministry  converted,  perhaps. 

"  6.  What  I  have  here  proposed  is  not  mere  theory.  I 
have  acted  upon  this  principle,  more  or  less,  ever  since  I  en- 
tered upon  the  business  of  education,  and  I  have  now  a 
class  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  promising  young  men  under 
this  kind  of  training.  I  hope  you  will  do  the  same  in  your 
institution.  Our  brethren  in  Virginia  say  they  cannot  take 
this  course,  because  their  charter  and  public  sentiment  will 
not  permit.  In  that  case  they  must  take  the  next  best  way. 
It  is  not  so  here.  I  ought,  however,  to  say,  that  the  theolo- 
gical instruction  which  we  impart  is  not  made  a  part  of  a 
college  course ;  it  is  extra  and  voluntary  on  their  part,  and 
gratuitous  on  ours. 

"  Your  affectionate  brother,  W.Fisk." 

We  have  already  had  occasion  to  observe,  that  one  object 
Dr.  Fisk  had  in  view,  in  connexion  with  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 


EDUCATION   OF  MISSIONARIES. 


309 


versity,  was  the  preparation  of  suitable  persons  for  the  mis- 
sionary field.  Of  this  he  did  not  lose  sight.  At  the  session 
of  the  New-England  Conference  in  1833,  he  introduced  a 
resolution  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  digest  a 
plan  for  the  formation  of  education  societies  throughout  the 
Conference.  The  ensuing  spring  he  received  from  the  Rev. 
John^Lindsey  a  letter,  to  which  he  wrote  the  subjoined  an- 
swer.   It  is  dated  March  24,  1834. 

"  Your  letter  from  Andover  was  received  this  morning. 
With  respect  to  the  missionary  department  in  the  University, 
I  know  not  what  to  say  ;  I  believe  such  a  department,  could 
it  be  sustained,  would  be  of  great  service  to  the  cause  of 
missions  :  it  would  create  and  establish  such  a  cause  among 
us.  As  yet,  we  have  no  missionary  cause  in  our  Church  for 
foreign  missions.  The  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  in 
New-York,  with  much  labour  and  perseverance,  got  up  the 
Liberia  Mission  ;  and  a  few  of  us,  in  the  same  way,  got  up, 
by  our  independent  exertions,  the  Oregon  Mission.  An  in- 
dependent movement  on  the  part  of  New-England  I  do  not 
so  well  like,  because  it  would  be  viewed  with  distrust  by 
other  parts ;  it  would  be  construed  into  radicalism  and  the 
like  by  some.  I  think,  however,  that  a  missionary  depart- 
ment in  the  University  would  accomplish  the  object  without 
exciting  those  jealousies.  If  we  have  men  raised  up  and 
prepared,  who  say  to  the  bishops  and  to  the  Conference,  i 1 
am  for  a  foreign  mission ,'  then  the  missions  will  be  planned 
and  the  work  will  be  sustained. 

"  But  how  shall  such  a  department  be  sustained  ?  Or,  for 
a  preliminary  question,  How  shall  it  be  constituted  ?  It 
must,  of  course,  be  a  department  for  instruction  preparatory 
to  a  foreign  mission,  for  which  charitable  provision  should 
be  made  for  the  poor.  Hence  perhaps  a  professorship 
should  be  established  and  endowed,  or  else  a  fund  should 
be  raised  for  the  education  of  such  young  men  as  were  des- 
tined for  the  mission  field.  The  latter  I  should  rather  pre- 
fer. But  can  such  a  fund  be  raised  ?  and  in  raising  it,  would 
not  our  other  efforts  be  paralyzed  ?  for  you  know  we  have 
not  funds  yet  for  the  college  proper.  Think  of  these  things, 
and  write. " 


310 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Dr.  Fisk,  at  the  next  Conference,  was  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Education,  while  the  Rev.  John  Lindsey  was 
in  the  same  relation  to  the  Committee  on  Missions.  Having 
respectively  examined  the  subjects  committed  to  them,  the 
two  bodies  united  in  presenting  the  subjoined  report  to  Con- 
ference. The  document  was  written  by  Dr.  Fisk,  and  signed  ■ 
by  the  chairman  of  each  committee.  It  is  worthy  of  serious 
perusal. 

"  The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  two  subjects,  that 
of  missionary  labour  and  education,  are  nearly  related  to 
each  other,  and,  in  the  present  state  of  the  Church,  the  two 
are,  in  fact,  inseparable.  It  is  evident,  from  the  signs  of  the 
times,  that  the  only  embarrassment  to  the  missionary  cause, 
which  threatens  seriously  to  impede  its  progress  in  our  Church, 
is  the  want  of  the  proper  agents  to  carry  it  on.  The  mis- 
sionary work  is  somewhat  peculiar,  and  differs  from  our  reg- 
ular work  in  two  respects  :  First,  An  education  suited  to 
the  particular  work  to  which  the  missionary  is  called.  "We 
have  already  commenced  in  the  foreign  missionary  enter- 
prise, and  calls  are  made  upon  us  for  an  enlargement  of 
these  operations,  in  places  where  an  acquaintance  with  other 
languages,  and  with  some  of  the  sciences  and  other  profes- 
sions, especially  the  profession  of  medicine,  is  indispensable. 
To  suit  these  peculiarities,  it  is  necessary  that  an  education 
should  be  given  of  an  appropriate  character.  Secondly,  An- 
other peculiarity  in  the  missionary  work  is  its  identity  with 
the  cause  of  education.  Education  and  the  Christian  reli- 
gion always  have  been  and  always  should  be  intimately  con- 
nected. A  minister  of  the  Gospel  that  is  not  interested  in 
the  cause  of  general  education  is  an  anomaly ;  and,  in  the 
opinion  of  your  committee,  such  a  man,  if  he  can  be  found, 
has  forgotten  an  important  part  of  his  calling.  But  this  ap- 
plies with  peculiar  emphasis  to  the  missionary  work.  Here 
not  only  must  the  missionary  aid  this  cause  collaterally  and 
indirectly,  but  he  must  make  it  a  part  of  his  business  to  teach, 
or,  at  least,  he  must  superintend  this  work  as  performed  by 
others,  associated  with  him  for  that  expiess  purpose.  Hence 
the  missionary  himself  must  be  prepared  for  the  work  of  in- 
struction, and  in  many  cases  must  have  associated  with  him 


EDUCATION  SOCIETY. 


311 


missionary  teachers,  all  of  whom  need  to  be  educated  for 
the  purpose.  The  question  is,  Where  shall  we  get  the  men 
with  the  appropriate  qualifications  for  this  all-important  en- 
terprise ?  If  we  look  into  the  ranks  of  the  travelling  minis- 
try, or  among  those  who  are  candidates  for  the  itinerant 
connexion,  we  must  be  constrained  to  acknowledge  that  we 
have  them  not  to  spare  from  these  sources  ;  and  if  we  look 
into  the  private  ranks  of  the  Church,  we  shall  find — what 
shall  we  find  ?  Men  qualified  for  this  work  ?  Your  com- 
mittee believe  not.  We  shall  find,  it  is  true,  young  persons 
of  both  sexes,  ardent  in  piety,  glowing  in  love  to  God  and 
man,  burning  with  a  commendable  zeal  for  the  missionary 
enterprise,  but  altogether  unprepared  to  prosecute  this  labour 
successfully.  In  proof  that  we  have  many  such  among  us, 
the  committee  have  had  the  testimony  of  other  brethren  from 
different  parts  of  the  Conference,  and  they  know  this  to  be 
a  fact  from  personal  acquaintance.  It  is  also  known  that 
a  great  portion  of  these  persons  are  poor,  and  unable  to 
secure  an  education  without  aid.  The  committee  have  there- 
fore agreed  to  report  a  plan,  the  general  features  of  which, 
they  are  fully  confident,  will  meet  the  exigences  of  the 
Church  in  this  matter,  if  the  members  of  the  Conference  will 
enter  into  it  with  unanimity  and  zeal ;  and  until  some  plan 
of  this  kind  be  adopted,  the  committee  are  of  opinion  that 
the  intellectual  resources  of  the  Church  will  never  be  fully 
developed,  and  rendered,  to  the  full  extent,  efficient  and  use- 
ful in  the  great  cause  of  evangelizing  the  world.  They  be- 
lieve that  the  longer  this  work  is  delayed,  the  more  will  the 
cause  of  the  Church  suffer,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The 
youth  of  our  Church  are  alienated  from  the  purposes  of  the 
Church,  either  into  business  purely  secular,  or  into  the  ser- 
vice and  under  the  control  of  others,  who  offer  them  advan- 
tages for  intellectual  improvement  and  subsequent  employ- 
ment which  they  have  sought  for  in  vain  among  us. 

"  The  committee  are  also  of  opinion,  that  by  this  proposed 
plan  the  Conference  may  afford  the  most  efficient  aid  to  our 
literary  institutions,  and  that,  too,  in  a  way  corresponding 
with  the  original  design  of  getting  up  these  institutions. 
The  primary  object  of  general  education  is,  as  it  should  be, 


312 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


the  highest  good  of  man  in  this  world  and  the  next.  It  is 
because  this  object  has  so  high  an  import,  and  because  it 
stands  connected  with  man's  highest  elevation  and  destiny, 
that  our  Church  has  interested  herself  in  the  establishment 
and  maintenance  of  literary  institutions.  These  institutions 
need  aid,  especially  the  Wesleyan  University  ;  an  institution 
which,  while  it  is  eminently  worthy,  as  your  committee  be- 
lieve, of  public  patronage,  has  strong  claims  upon  the  Con- 
ference for  patronage  and  support.  But  paying  students 
are  as  profitable  for  the  time  being  to  the  University  as 
money.  If,  therefore,  the  Conference  should  raise  funds  for 
the  purposes  of  education  at  the  University,  they  will  so  far 
strengthen  and  aid  the  institution  ;  and  if  they  do  this  in 
connexion  with  the  missionary  work,  they  will  so  far  aid  the 
cause  of  the  Church  directly,  and  hence  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion and  religion  will,  by  the  same  operation,  be  promoted. 

"  The  committee  might  enlarge  upon  the  wants  of  the 
Church  in  reference  to  this  subject  ;  they  might  say  that 
calls  have  been  made  for  missionaries  and  teachers  in  South 
America,  and  that  there  are  increased  openings  in  Africa  ; 
they  might  mention  that  hundreds  of  teachers  are  now  called 
for  in  our  new  settlements,  on  our  frontiers,  and  among  our 
aborigines  :  calls  that  cannot  be  met  until  the  persons  are 
provided,  and  the  persons  cannot  be  provided  unless  they  are 
educated. 

"  The  committee  are  aware  that  the  execution  of  this  plan 
will  require  zeal,  unanimity,  and  prudence.  But  we  shall 
gain  nothing  by  delay.  An  efficient  and  discreet  committee 
should  be  appointed,  and  great  care  should  be  taken  in  ma- 
turing the  plan  and  fixing  the  details.  Let  us  not,  however, 
by  our  fears,  hesitate  longer  in  this  work  ;  we  have  neg- 
lected it  too  long.  With  prayer  for  wisdom,  and  with  in- 
terest in  the  cause,  and  with  a  resolution  to  go  forward,  let 
us  engage.  And  may  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  give 
success  to  the  enterprise." 

To  the  report  was  attached  a  resolution  imbodying  the 
essential  feature  recommended.  A  constitution  for  such  a 
society  was  also  submitted,  defining  its  object  to  be  "  to 
look  up  and  bring  forward  such  young  persons  as  may  be 


EDUCATION  SOCIETIES. 


313 


judged  suitable  for  Home  or  Foreign  Missions,  either  as 
teachers  or  preachers,  and  to  furnish  them  with  the  means 
of  an  education  suited  to  the  peculiar  duties  to  which  they 
may  be  respectively  called."  They  recommended,  at  the 
same  time,  that  the  bishop  be  requested  to  appoint  an  agent, 
to  travel  through  the  Conference  the  ensuing  year,  to  pro- 
mote the  objects  of  the  society.  The  entire  plan  was  adopt- 
ed, and  carried  into  immediate  execution.  This  was  the 
origin  of  education  societies  in  the  Methodist  Church.  The 
example  has  been  followed  in  some  other  Conferences,  and 
we  trust  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  plan  will  become 
general. 

An  extract  from  the  report  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
presented  the  ensuing  year,  will  show  the  doings  of  the  so- 
ciety during  the  intervening  period.  It  was  written  by  Dr. 
Fisk: 

"  The  number  of  beneficiaries  that  are  now  under  the 
patronage  of  the  society  is  eight,  at  an  annual  expense  of 
from  85  to  100  dollars.  Two  of  these  are  coloured  men, 
both  of  whom  are  designed  for  the  African  Mission.  One  of 
these,  Reverend  Amos  Herring,  is  a  minister  recommended 
for  orders  to  the  present  session  of  the  New-England  Con- 
ference, and  a  man  of  much  promise  to  the  Church.  The 
other  is  already  qualified  as  a  teacher  in  a  high  school  in 
Africa,  and  is  expected  to  be  called  to  that  station  in  a  few 
months.  The  committee  feel  highly  gratified  at  the  pro- 
spective usefulness  of  these  men,  and  feel  confident  that  ei- 
ther of  them  has  been  benefited  by  the  society  to  an  extent 
that  would,  if  there  were  no  other  good  accomplished  by 
their  operations  the  past  year,  amply  compensate  for  all  the 
money  and  labour  that  have  been  bestowed  in  the  operations 
of  the  society.  Three  of  the  beneficiaries  of  the  society  are 
in  the  Wesleyan  University,  from  whom  the  committee  have 
the  most  gratifying  information  respecting  their  religious 
standing,  their  attention  and  improvement,  and  their  prom- 
ising usefulness.  The  others  are  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy 
in  Wilbraham.  From  these,  also,  the  committee  have  such 
returns  as  afford  them,  in  the  main,  high  satisfaction  and 
encouragement.  The  whole  expense  of  those  under  the  pa- 
27  Rr 


314 


LIFE   OF   WILLBUR  FISK. 


tronage  of  the  society  the  past  year  is  estimated  at  about  five 
hundred  and  twelve  dollars." 

But,  like  most  new  enterprises,  the  present  had  to  encoun- 
ter distrust  and  opposition.  Another  extract  from  the  report 
will  show  how  our  author  endeavoured  to  overcome  these  : 

"  4.  The  youth  of  our  Church  must  be  educated,  or  the 
missionary  work  must  be  seriously  embarrassed  and  restrict- 
ed, so  far  as  our  instrumentality  is  concerned.  On  this 
point  perhaps  the  committee  ought  to  enlarge  a  little,  by 
way  of  illustrating  their  views,  and  of  calling  the  attention 
of  the  Church  to  the  subject.  This  is  the  more  necessary, 
perhaps,  because  the  attitude  assumed  by  this  society  may 
seem  to  be  novel  in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  possibly,  to 
some,  may  seem  to  conflict  with  our  former  doings  and 
teachings.  '  It  is  a  departure  from  our  ancient  landmarks,' 
say  some.  If,  however,  it  be  a  departure  from  the  ancient 
landmarks  of  Methodism  to  be  interested  and  active  in  the 
cause  of  education,  then  the  committee  have  yet  to  learn 
what  ancient  Methodism  was.  But  if  the  objection  be,  that 
to  educate  in  view  of  the  ministry  is  the  particular  point  of 
divergency  from  the  ancient  landmarks,  to  this  a  few  words 
may  be  replied  : 

"  1.  The  Methodist  Church  never  discarded  education  in 
view  of  the  ministry  or  for  the  ministry,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
always  encouraged  and  insisted  upon  it,  both  in  her  Disci- 
pline and  by  her  usages.  It  is  true,  she  has  not  always  sent 
her  candidates  or  licentiates  to  a  literary  and  scientific  insti- 
tution for  an  education.  She  has  endeavoured  to  educate 
them  in  the  work.  In  this  she  has  done  much,  and  done, 
too,  in  most  cases  in  former  years,  the  best  thing  she  could 
do,  considering  the  exigencies  of  the  Church.  But  this  was 
always  a  tedious  process,  and  only  practicable  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  only  profitable  under  certain  circumstances. 
When  the  state  of  society  advances,  when  theological  knowl- 
edge increases,  and  when  astute  and  learned  opponents  are 
in  the  field,  the  man  of  God  must  be  proportionally  ad- 
vanced in  his  intellectual  attainments.  Besides,  our  own 
people  now — whether  right  or  wrong,  they  must  judge — will 
not  suffer  us  to  fill  up  the  ministry  as  we  once  did.  They 


EDUCATION  OF  MINISTERS. 


315 


say,  in  the  greater  portion  of  the  work,  <  Do  not  send  us 
uneducated  boys,  but  men — men  who  can  instruct  us.'  Now 
either  some  parts  of  the  work  must  take  all  the  licentiates 
and  educate  them  for  the  other  parts,  by  supporting  them  as 
their  pastors  for  the  time  of  their  probation,  with  an  assu- 
rance of  leaving  them  as  soon  as  they  become  qualified  for 
their  work  (a  disinterestedness  which  we  rarely,  if  ever,  find, 
and  have  no  right  to  expect),  or  these  men  must  be  better 
educated  before  they  are  imposed  upon  the  people. 

u  2.  Another  reply  to  the  objection  here  attempted  to  be 
met  is,  that  that  form  of  ecclesiastical  organization  called 
Methodism  is  peculiarly  the  offspring  of  Providence,  and 
specially  adapted  to  the  circumstances  and  wants  of  men. 
Mr.  Wesley  followed  where  Providence  prepared  the  way, 
and  he  left  the  institutions  of  which  he  was  the  author,  un- 
der God  (we  mean  the  prudential  regulations  of  the  Church), 
in  such  form  in  Europe,  and  especially  in  this  country,  as  to 
be  readily  adjusted  to  the  providential  variations  of  society. 
This  is  one  of  the  glories  of  Methodism ;  and  the  moment 
the  Church  on  these  points  assumes  that  the  canons  of  the 
volume  of  Providence  are  complete,  and  that  the  Church  is 
immutable  in  her  course  of  prudential  and  providential 
measures  to  benefit  mankind,  that  moment  the  Methodist 
Church  is  stopped  in  her  glorious  career  of  usefulness,  and 
the  lapse  of  a  few  years  will  mark  her  with  the  wrinkled 
visage  of  age ;  her  institutions  will  become  antiquated,  ob- 
solete, and  inefficient.  Against  such  a  prostration  of  all  the 
energies  of  the  Church,  by  the  bigoted  and  unmeaning 
clamour  for  oldfashioned  Methodism,  every  member  of  the 
Church  should  enter  his  practical  protest. 

"  3.  But,  whatever  may  be  thought  of  this  process  for  the 
regular  work  at  home,  it  is  obvious  to  the  most  casual  ob- 
server that  this  course  will  not  answer  for  the  missionary 
work.  There  we  want  men  of  suitable  qualifications  to  be- 
gin with,  and  frequently  such  qualifications  as  are  peculiar. 
We  want  teachers,  also,  as  well  as  preachers.  We  want 
physicians,  not  unfrequently,  to  get  access  to  the  soul  by 
doing  good  to  the  body.  For  the  missionary  work,  then, 
we  must  have  men  properly  educated.    As  to  the  argument 


316 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


that  God  will  call  such  men  as  are  properly  qualified,  if  he 
need  any  different  from  what  are  now  in  the  field,  it  seems 
to  the  executive  committee  to  be  an  Antinomian  heresy,  a 
censure  upon  the  past  proceedings  of  the  Church,  and  an  al- 
most blasphemous  arraignment  of  Divine  Providence.  It  is 
Antinomianism,  for  it  implies  that,  when  the  Head  of  the 
Church  wishes  to  accomplish  any  object  for  the  Church,  he 
will  do  it  without  human  co-operation,  which  is  contrary  to 
the  whole  analogy  of  the  Gospel.  It  is  a  censure  upon  the 
past  proceedings  of  the  Church,  because  it  has  always  and 
uniformly  assumed  that  those  whom  God  calls  are  not  pre- 
pared for  the  holy  office  without  probation  and  training.  It 
is  an  arraignment  of  Divine  Providence,  for  the  fact  is,  we 
have  not  the  men  suitable  for  the  work ;  and  for  this  defi- 
ciency, let  not  the  Church  blame  God,  but  herself. 

"  W.  Fisk, 
"  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

"  Lynn,  June,  1835." 

Dr.  Fisk's  correspondence  was  all  the  time  rapidly  increas- 
ing. Piles  of  letters  are  before  us,  written  to  him  from  every 
part  of  the  New  World,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Texas  and  Ore- 
gon. They  were  as  varied  in  their  topics  as  ever,  embra- 
cing theology,  science,  literature,  Church  government,  edu- 
cation. Many  of  these  required  elaborate  answers.  Thus 
a  coterie  of  friends  in  Virginia,  by  indulging  a  course  of 
speculation  on  the  Divine  Ubiquity,  find  themselves  soon  "in 
wandering  mazes  lost,"  and  Dr.  Fisk  is  appealed  to  for  re- 
lief. A  person  has  his  mind  perplexed  in  regard  to  the 
proper  divinity  of  the  Messiah,  and  he  sends  an  account  of 
his  perplexities  to  our  author,  from  whom  he  received  a  reply, 
which,  according  to  a  subsequent  acknowledgment,  rescued 
him  from  the  horrors  of  skepticism.  Most  of  these  letters 
have  been  lost,  or,  at  least,  have  not  found  their  way  to  the 
writer  ;  but,  happily,  two  have  been  given  to  the  public,  of 
which  one  has  received  a  large  share  of  applause.  We  al- 
lude to  his  reply  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pierpont's  tract  entitled 
"  Jesus  Christ  not  a  Literal  Sacrifice. "  In  December,  1834, 
our  author  received  a  copy  of  this  tract,  enclosed  in  a  letter 


JEWS  BELIEVED  IN  ETERNAL  PUNISHMENT.  317 

from  one  whose  mind  was  perplexed  by  it,  requesting  his 
views  on  it.  These  views  were  published  in  Zion's  Herald, 
and  were  so  highly  satisfactory  as  to  occasion  a  request  from 
the  editor  and  publisher  to  have  them  printed  in  tract  form. 
We  have  never  seen  a  more  perfect  piece  of  argumentation  : 
it  may  be  regarded  as  a  gem  of  logic.  An  answer,  I  be- 
lieve, has  never  been  attempted.  The  other  letter,  to  which 
allusion  has  been  made,  is  a  reply  to  a  Universalist,  who  re- 
quested proof  of  an  assertion  he  heard  in  one  of  Dr.  Fisk's 
discourses,  namely,  that  the  Jews  believed  in  the  doctrine 
of  endless  punishment.  As  the  letter  is  not  long,  we  lay  it 
before  the  reader. 

On  Future  Punishment. 

"My  dear  Sir, 

"  In  the  letter  I  had  the  honour  to  receive  from  you  in 
New-London,  touching  my  sermon  on  the  previous  Sabbath, 
I  was  not  a  little  surprised  that  you  should  question  my  state- 
ment that  the  Jews,  in  the  days  of  our  Saviour,  generally 
believed  in  the  eternity  of  future  punishment.  You  say  you 
*  find  no  evidence  that  such  was  the  fact ;'  and  if  1 4  can  fur- 
nish such  evidence,  it  will  much  oblige  you.' 

"  Permit  me,  then,  sir,  in  the  first  place,  to  remark,  that 
some  of  your  own  authors  acknowledge  this. — See  Dr.  Hart- 
ley. In  fact,  I  do  not  now  recollect  that  I  ever  before  heard 
it  denied  by  any  Universalist  who  might  be  supposed  to 
have  the  means  of  information  within  his  reach.  Again,  the 
Targums  and  many  of  the  Rabbinical  writings  teach  this  doc- 
trine. But,  to  set  this  subject  fully  at  rest,  let  me  refer  you 
to  Josephus,  who,  you  must  acknowledge,  is  the  best  author- 
ity on  this  subject,  not  only  because  he  was  himself  a  Jew, 
and  a  highly  accredited  historian,  but  also  because  his  early 
life  was  contemporary  with  some  of  the  apostles,  having  been 
born  about  four  years  after  the  crucifixion  of  Christ.  In  his 
book  entitled  'War  of  the  Jews,'  chap,  ii.,  sec.  11,  he  says 
that  the  Essenes,  a  sect  of  the  Jews,  believe,  in  common 
with  the  Greeks,  that  '  bad  men  suffer  immortal  punish- 
ments after  death ;'  and  in  sec.  14,  that  the  Pharisees  be- 
lieve that  1  the  souls  of  bad  men  are  subj  ect  to  eternal  pun- 
27* 


318 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ishment.'  The  Sadducees,  it  is  true,  did  not  believe  in  a 
future  state,  neither  in  1  angel  nor  spirit.'  But  they  were  an 
inconsiderable  sect  as  to  number,  and  were  principally  con- 
fined to  the  higher  classes ;  the  people  generally,  as  you 
must  know,  sir,  held  with  the  Pharisees.  See  again  1  An- 
tiquities of  the  Jews,'  book  xviii.,  chap,  i.,  sec.  3 :  1  They 
(the  Pharisees)  also  believe  that  souls  have  an  immortal 
vigour  in  them,  and  that  under  the  earth  there  will  be  re- 
wards and  punishments,  according  as  they  have  lived  virtu- 
ously or  viciously  in  this  life,  and  the  latter  are  to  be  de- 
tained in  an  everlasting  prison,'  &c.  See  also  Josephus's 
Discourse  concerning  Hades,  which  you,  sir,  and  every  Uni- 
versalist,  ought  to  study  closely,  not  only  that  you  may  learn 
that  the  Jews,  as  is  there  stated,  believed  in  a  '  lake  of  un- 
quenchable fire,  prepared  for  a  day  afore-determined  by 
God,  in  which  one  righteous  sentence  shall  deservedly  be 
passed  upon  all  men,  when  the  unjust,  and  those  that  have 
been  disobedient  to  God,  shall  be  adjudged  to  their  ever- 
lasting punishment,'  but  also  that  you  may  thereby  learn  the 
meaning  of  certain  terms,  then  in  popular  use,  and  adopted 
by  our  Lord  and  his  apostles.  You  will  then  understand 
what  is  meant  by  *  that  day?  that  '  appointed  day?  so  often 
spoken  of  in  the  New  Testament ;  as  also  what  is  meant  by 
the  judgment,  which  Universalists  so  unmeaningly  explain 
away;  by  '  rewards'  and  'punishments?  and  by  'unquench- 
able fire?  which  Universalists  confine  to  this  life.  Do  you 
believe,  sir,  that  these  terms  are  used  in  the  New  Testament 
in  any  other  than  the  commonly  received  sense  ?  And 
when  you  here  learn  what  that  sense  was  among  the  Jews, 
and  hear  our  Saviour  and  his  apostles  talking  of  unquench- 
able fire,  of  salvation,  of  eternal  punishment  in  a  future  world, 
of  the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  same  manner  in  which  the 
Jews  used  these  terms,  thus  confirming  instead  of  correcting 
their  views,  can  you,  sir — O  !  let  me  put  the  question  to  you 
as  a  responsible  subject  of  the  Divine  law — can  you,  sir,  say 
'  I  believe  the  Bible,'  and  then  add, '  I  have  no  evidence  that 
the  Jews  believed  the  doctrine  of  endless  punishment,  or 
that  Jesus  or  any  of  his  apostles  believed  it  ?'  4  Art  thou  a 
teacher  in  Israel,  and  knowest  not  these  things  ?'    May  I  not 


AIM  OF  HIS  VARIOUS  WRITINGS. 


319 


hope,  sir,  you  will  review  this  whole  business  ?  If  you  have 
attended  to  it  as  little  as  your  ignorance  of  the  belief  of  the 
Jews  seems  to  indicate,  there  is  reason  for  your  own  per- 
sonal faith,  much  more  for  the  responsibility  of  a  public 
teacher,  that  you  re-examine  the  subject.  If  Universalism 
is  an  error,  it  is  inconceivably  ruinous.  In  that  case,  the 
riches  of  the  material  universe  would  not  compensate  a  man 
for  having  had  a  share  in  its  propagation.  So  deeply  does 
this  consideration  impress  my  mind,  that  it  would  deter  me 
from  ever  propagating  Universalism,  even  if  I  believed  it, 
unless  I  believed  also  in  my  own  infallibility.  I  ask  you,  as 
a  reasonable  man,  am  I  not  correct  ? 

"I  subscribe  myself,  sir,  a  lover  of  truth  and  of  man, 

"W.  Fisk. 

"  Middletown,  February  23,  1834." 

No  man  could  practise  the  arts  of  gaining  reputation  less 
than  Dr.  Fisk.  How  an  undertaking  would  affect  himself 
was  his  last  thought,  if  he  thought  it  at  all.  Had  he  hus- 
banded his  mental  resources,  and  concentrated  his  powers 
on  the  production  of  a  single  work,  he  would,  no  doubt, 
have  stood  even  higher  than  he  did  in  the  republic  of  let- 
ters. But,  if  he  did  not  work  for  eternity  in  the  sense  of 
Zeuxis,  he  did  in  another  ;*  he  aimed  at  moral  effect  more 
than  scholastic  character.  Hence  his  publications,  general- 
ly, were  owing  to  immediate  occasion.  Whenever  he  saw 
any  demand  upon  his  labours,  seizing  his  pen,  cur  rente  ca- 
lamo,  he  threw  off  an  article  and  sent  it  to  the  press,  often 
with  little  time  for  study  or  revision.  Many  of  these  fugi- 
tive pieces  are  lost,  or  we  have  no  means  of  identifying  them. 
Many  of  them  were  in  reply  to  some  of  the  numerous  at- 
tacks made  at  that  period  upon  the  Church  of  his  affections, 
and,  however  able  and  important  at  the  time,  would  hardly 
be  worth  preserving,  as  the  points  they  treat  on  have  ceased 
to  interest.  The  cause  he  defended  has  outlived  much  of 
the  opposition  of  that  day,  and  is  now  better  understood  and 
appreciated.  Let  the  grievances  of  the  past  be  covered  by 
the  veil  of  Christian  charity. 

*  "  I  write  for  eternity,"  was  his  frequent  remark. 


320 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


But  his  writings  were  not  limited  in  their  topics.  Every- 
thing relating  to  public  morals,  social  improvement,  and  hu- 
man happiness  interested  him,  and  often  engaged  his  pen. 
The  spirit  in  which  he  pursued  this  course  is  finely  illustra- 
ted by  his  remarks  on  a  certain  occasion  to  Mrs.  Fisk.  He 
was  writing  an  appeal  to  the  public,  for  one  of  the  New-York 
journals,  on  the  disregard  of  human  life,  as  evinced  by  an 
explosion  of  the  steamboat  New-England  in  the  Connecticut 
River.  On  her  remarking  to  him  that  he  did  not  take  the 
proper  course  to  become  a  great  man — that,  instead  of  wri- 
ting on  every  topic,  he  should  confine  his  attention  to  a  few 
— his  simple  and  pregnant  reply  was,  "  I  do  nothing  merely 
for  the  present  life  !" 

From  the  view  we  have  thus  given  of  our  subject's  occu- 
pations, the  reader  may  be  led  to  believe  that  he  had  but 
little  leisure  to  explore  the  deep  recesses  of  science  and  lit- 
erature. But  this  was  not  his  calling ;  nor  was  the  mere 
book-worm  his  proper  character.  Although  he  duly  appre- 
ciated the  labours  of  the  intellectualist,  who  is  busy  in  lay- 
ing the  foundations  of  human  knowledge  and  belief,  yet  his 
own  mind  was  more  practical  than  speculative.  In  the  best 
sense  of  the  term,  he  was  a  utilitarian.  The  knowledge  he 
gained  was  chiefly  with  a  view  to  practical  uses.  Still,  by 
uncommon  industry,  joined  to  rigid  method,  he  acquired 
much  more  knowledge  than  most  would  have  done  in  his 
circumstances.  His  labours  did  not  occupy  as  much  time 
as  many  would  suppose.  He  despatched  business  rapidly. 
He  wrote  with  ease,  spent  little  time  in  revising  and  cor- 
recting, and  none  in  anticipating  or  reflecting  upon  the  re- 
ception of  his  works  ;  and,  while  his  labours  were  perform- 
ed with  a  very  small  expenditure  of  vita]  energy,  he  possess- 
ed a  ductility  of  mind  and  a  command  of  attention  that  ena- 
bled him  to  pass  from  one  occupation  or  train  of  thought  to 
another  with  great  facility.  Hence  he  lost  but  little  time  by 
change  of  company  and  employment.  By  these  means  he 
was  making  continual  additions  to  his  information.  His 
mind  was  remarkably  clear  and  symmetrical,  his  knowledge 
well  digested  and  accurately  classified,  and  his  memory  was 
both  retentive  and  prompt.    Thus,  with  the  advantage  of  the 


MODE  OF  INSTRUCTION. 


321 


excellent  foundation  laid  in  early  life,  he  found  little  difficul- 
ty in  keeping  up  with  the  improvements  of  the  age.  Indeed, 
proficients  in  science  have  often  expressed  their  surprise, 
knowing  the  multiplicity  of  his  avocations,  at  the  amount  of 
his  acquirements  in  branches  to  which  they  supposed  he  had 
paid  but  a  very  cursory  attention.  It  was  of  great  advan- 
tage to  him,  and,  indeed,  it  may  be  considered  an  attribute 
of  a  practical  mind,  that  his  knowledge  was  entirely  at  his 
command.  Hence  he  was  seldom  found  unprepared,  and 
was  rarely  at  a  loss  for  a  happy  illustration  or  an  apt  allu- 
sion in  the  time  of  need  ;  hence,  too,  he  not  unfrequently 
made  a  splendid  effort  at  but  a  moment's  warning.  It  was 
said  of  the  "  judicious  Hooker,"  "  that  he  not  only  knew 
more,  but  what  he  knew  he  knew  better  than  other  men." 
The  latter  part  of  this  the  audiences  he  addressed  were  in- 
clined to  say  of  Dr.  Fisk  ;  for,  if  he  did  not  astonish,  dazzle, 
and  confound  them  with  a  useless  profusion  of  learning,  yet 
so  perfect  was  his  command  of  his  subject  and  of  himself, 
so  comprehensive  his  views,  and  consecutive  and  satisfactory 
his  logic,  that  it  might  well  be  said  he  seemed  to  know  what 
he  knew  better  than  other  men. 

In  the  early  stage  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  while  the 
board  of  instruction  was  incomplete,  he  sometimes,  as  before 
remarked  heard  classes  recite  in  Greek  and  Latin,  as  well  as  in 
his  own  appropriate  departments.  But  this  was  now  no  long- 
er necessary.  He  generally  heard  only  one  daily  recitation, 
and  attended  to  the  weekly  exercises  in  composition  and  dec- 
lamation. The  subjects  included  in  his  course  of  instruction 
were  such  as  are  common  in  most  of  our  American  colleges 
in  the  junior  and  senior  years,  embracing  Rhetoric,  the  Evi- 
dences of  Christianity,  Logic,  Ethics,  Mental  Philosophy,  with 
Political  Economy  and  the  Elements  of  Constitutional  Law. 
His  recitations  were  always  conducted  by  means  of  a  text- 
book, but  without  a  servile  adherence  to  the  author  ;  and 
his  mode  of  questioning  was  adapted  to  ascertain  both  how 
closely  they  had  studied  the  lesson,  and  how  far  they  under- 
stood the  subject.  He  allowed,  and  even  encouraged,  the 
utmost  freedom  on  the  part  of  the  class ;  took  pains  to  awa- 
ken interest ;  patiently  listened  to  what  any  member  had  to 

S  s 


322 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


say ;  and  satisfied,  as  far  as  possible,  all  inquirers.  Fre- 
quently he  would  illustrate  the  lesson  by  some  playful  stroke 
of  humour  or  a  pleasant  anecdote ;  always  taking  care, 
however,  to  maintain  a  proper  dignity  while  thus  ministering 
at  once  to  instruction  and  entertainment.  In  short,  his  in- 
tercourse with  his  classes  had  more  the  air  of  familiar  con- 
verse than  of  formal  recitations.  He  seemed  to  address  them 
rather  ex  animo  than  ex  cathedra.  Thus  he  not  only  kept 
the  mind  of  the  student  constantly  on  the  alert,  but  he  also 
united  in  a  good  degree  the  advantages  both  of  recitations 
and  lectures.  Courses  of  lectures  he  did  not  deliver,  either 
because  he  preferred  the  other  method  of  teaching,  or  be- 
cause his  various  engagements  did  not  allow  him  to  prepare 
them.  But  he  delivered  lectures  occasionally,  either  on  such 
portions  of  the  subject  as  he  thought  not  clearly  or  satisfac- 
torily treated  in  the  text-book,  or  on  such  topics  as  he  desired 
to  expand  or  to  enforce.  These  lectures  were  sometimes 
before  the  whole  college. 

What  we  have  said  above  will  give  the  reader  some  idea 
of  Dr.  Fisk's  mode  of  intercourse  with  the  students  out  of 
the  recitation-room.  He  believed  that,  in  order  to  secure 
dignity  of  conduct  and  manliness  of  character,  it  is  necessary 
to  inspire  the  youth  with  self-respect.  To  produce,  there- 
fore, in  his  mind  a  feeling  of  inferiority,  he  thought  highly 
prejudicial.  Hence  he  ever  treated  the  students,  not  as  boys, 
but  as  young  gentlemen.  He  addressed  them  as  such.  He 
put  on  no  magisterial  airs.  Though  strict  as  a  disciplinarian, 
yet,  by  always  treating  the  students  with  respect,  he  taught 
them,  in  return,  to  respect  themselves  and  him.  He  never 
demanded  any  marks  of  courtesy  or  formal  expressions  of 
reverence.  He  thought  it  better  to  leave  this  to  the  prompt- 
ings of  private  feeling  ;  believing  that,  if  the  sentiments  and 
feelings  of  the  student  were  properly  trained,  such  expres- 
sions of  respect  as  urbanity  demands  or  custom  sanctions 
would  be  spontaneously  given,  provided  the  teacher's  own 
demeanour  were  such  as  to  call  them  forth ;  but,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  these,  the  enforcement  of  respect  by  statute,*  or 

*  Thus  I  have  before  me  a  copy  of  the  laws  of  the  University  of  Vermont, 
where  our  subject  first  entered  college.    In  these  it  is  enjoined  that,  "  whenever 


INTERCOURSE   WITH  THE  STUDENTS.  323 

the  formal  demand  of  it,  would  only  create  an  empty  pa- 
rade, or  perhaps  awaken  a  spirit  of  resistance,  more  fatal  to 
the  authority  of  a  teacher  than  negative  rudeness.  Perhaps 
on  that  subject  a  just  medium  may  be  pursued;  for  if,  on 
the  one  hand,  everything  is  to  be  stiffened  into  shape  by  stat- 
utes, not  only  will  the  teacher  know  but  little  of  the  private 
feelings  of  the  student,  and  so,  under  an  outward  show  of 
respect,  there  may  be  a  secret  disregard  for  authority  ;  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  if  there  be  no  attention  paid  to  the  man- 
ners and  social  observances,  the  student  may  be  very  indif- 
ferently qualified  to  perform  his  part  in  that  circle  of  society 
with  which  his  education  qualifies  him  to  mingle.  Manners 
are  morals ;  or,  as  the  French  say,  "  les  petites  morales." 
And  hence,  says  the  philosophic  Paley,  u  Bad  manners  are 
bad  morals.' 9  They  take  their  rise  from  some  defect  in  the 
nicer  shades  of  character. 

the  president  or  any  college  governor  speaks  to  any  student,  or  he  to  either  of 
them,  he  shall  stand  uncovered."  He  shall  always  give  precedence  to  an  offi- 
cer in  passing  through  a  door  or  a  gate.  "  He  is  to  rise  whenever  the  president, 
&c,  enter  his  chamber,  or  any  place  where  he  is,  and  stand  till  he  is  desired  to 
sit."  Dr.  Fisk  approved  of  these  as  spontaneous  courtesies,  but  he  thought  that 
making  them  the  subject  of  rule  and  statute  was  legislating  over  much. 


324 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Abolition  Controversy. — Unauthorized  Transformation. — Speech  at  the 
American  Union. — Colonization. — Ability  as  a  Speaker. — Bible  Society  Ad- 
dress in  1835. — Description  of  his  Preaching. — Impaired  Health. — Prepares  for 
his  Voyage  to  Europe. — Letters.— Honour  Conferred. 

We  now  come  to  a  painful  portion  of  our  subject's  history. 
It  was  painful  to  himself,  because  it  brought  him  into  colli- 
sion with  many  of  his  brethren,  and  some  even  of  his  earli- 
est and  dearest  friends  in  the  ministry ;  and  it  was  painful 
to  the  Church,  because  the  talents  which  might  have  been 
so  available  if  otherwise  employed,  were  occupied  in  a  com- 
paratively fruitless  controversy.  A  commander  in  a  civil 
war  may  render  important  service  to  his  country ;  yet  his  la- 
bours must  always  be  painful,  and,  in  a  certain  sense,  un- 
profitable. The  reader  will  perhaps  understand  that  we  al- 
lude to  the  Abolition  Controversy.  It  is  not  our  intention  to 
enter  into  the  merits  of  this  question :  all  we  have  to  do  is 
honestly  to  illustrate  our  subject's  course  in  it.  This  is  the 
more  obligatory  on  us,  as  many  have  blamed  him  for  enter- 
ing into  it ;  but  with  what  justice  our  history  will  show. 

Dr.  Fisk  was  always  opposed,  sentimentally  and  consci- 
entiously, to  the  system  of  slavery ;  but  he  saw,  or  believed 
that  he  saw,  in  the  mode  in  which  the  anti-slavery  movement 
was  conducted,  the  elements  of  great  mischief,  both  to  the 
Church  and  nation.  He  believed  that  it  seriously  threat- 
ened a  schism  in  the  one,  and  a  dissolution  of  the  other ; 
while,  by  the  feelings  it  awakened  at  the  South,  it  was  ma- 
king the  present  condition  of  the  slaves  altogether  worse,  and 
actually  postponing  the  period  of  their  emancipation.  We 
need  not  state  the  grounds  on  which  these  opinions  were 
formed ;  it  is  enough  to  prove  that  he  was  perfectly  honest 
in  holding  and  maintaining  them. 

For  a  considerable  time  he  stood  watching  the  progress 
and  indications  of  the  controversy  without  taking  part  in  it. 
In  the  month  of  January,  1835,  he  received  a  letter  from  the 
editor  of  Zion's  Herald,  Mr.  Benjamin  Kingsbury,  inform- 
ing him  that,  by  a  vote  of  the  publishing  association,  the  pa- 


ABOLITION  CONTROVERSY. 


325 


per  was  to  be  opened  to  the  Slavery  Question,  and  inviting 
him  to  share  in  the  discussion.  It  was  far  from  Dr.  Fisk's 
wish  to  comply  ;  but  it  was  not  designed  that  he  should  long 
remain  neutral  or  silent.  In  February,  a  leading  abolition- 
ist parodied  his  celebrated  address  on  Temperance,  substi- 
tuting in  brackets  for  temperance,  ardent  spirits,  and  the  like, 
the  terms  abolition,  slavery,  and  so  on,  thus  converting  it 
into  an  anti-slavery  document.  To  say  the  least,  this  was 
highly  discourteous.  A  parody,  Coleridge  has  somewhere 
said,  "  on  an  ancient  writer  is  a  compliment ;  on  a  modern 
it  is  a  satire."  How  greatly  was  Dr.  Fisk  surprised  to  find 
his  name,  without  his  own  knowledge  or  consent,  coupled 
with  this  contest !  There  was  now  no  alternative  but  to  give 
his  influence  to  one  side  or  the  other  ;  and  he  did  not  long 
hesitate,  as  silence  would,  in  the  estimation  of  many,  have 
identified  him  with  measures  which  he  deprecated.  Nor 
would  it  have  been  proper  to  have  allowed  such  a  trifling 
with  his  feelings  to  go  unrebuked.  With  these  views,  he 
drew  up  his  protest  against  the  "  unauthorized  transforma- 
tion." It  was  a  powerful  article,  smooth,  keen,  eloquent. 
Many  of  Dr.  Fisk's  friends,  judging  him  by  the  calmness  of 
his  ordinary  style,  were  astonished  ;  and  some,  like  Romilly 
on  listening  to  the  withering  sarcasm  and  invective  poured  out 
by  Wilberforce  in  the  House  of  Commons  upon  a  member 
who  sneered  at  his  piety,*  wondered  that,  having  such  powers 
at  command,  he  had  never  before  seen  fit  to  use  them.  Be- 
fore sending  it  to  press,  he  read  it  to  Professor  Whedon,  on 
whose  judgment  in  literature  he  placed  great  reliance,  when 
the  following  conversation  took  place  :  "  Doctor,  it  certainly 
ought  to  be  well  weighed  ;  it  commits  you  completely  to  the 
controversy  :  and  from  the  moment  you  publish  it,  you  hang 
yourself  up  as  a  target  to  be  shot  at." 

"  I  know  that,"  was  his  characteristic  reply ;  "  but  I  have 
ever,  when  called  upon  by  duty,  expressed  my  opinion  with- 
out regard  to  personal  considerations.  I  have  found  it  turn 
out  best,  and  I  think  I  must  do  it  now." 

*  "  Yes,"  said  Sir  Samuel  to  a  friend,  who  remarked  that  this  speech  "  out- 
matched Pitt,  the  great  master  of  sarcasm,"  "yes,  it  is  the  most  striking  thing 
I  almost  ever  heard  ;  but  I  look  upon  it  as  a  more  singular  part  of  Wilberforce's 
virtue  than  of  his  genius ;  for  who  but  he  ever  possessed  such  a  formidable 
weapon,  and  never  used  it  ?" — Brougham's  Sketches. 

28 


326 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


This  remark,  made  in  the  privacy  of  the  study,  was  never 
expected  to  be  repeated,  much  less  published  to  the  world ; 
and  it  is  therefore  a  more  unequivocal  proof  of  the  singleness 
of  his  aims.  It  is  in  perfect  accordance  with  his  usual  sen- 
timents. It  is  evident  that  he  entered  upon  the  contest  under 
conscientious,  yet  painful  emotions. 

From  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Asa  Kent,  we  extract  a  passage 
still  farther  illustrating  his  views. 

"March,  14,  1835. 

"  With  respect  to  the  Anti-slavery  Controversy,  I  fear  for 
the  result.  You  see  I  have  thrown  myself  upon  the  billows, 
but  I  fear  with  too  little  effect ;  perhaps  not  enough  to  com- 
pensate for  what  I  may  lose  by  the  course.  But  I  have  al- 
ways remembered  some  advice  of  yours  when  I  first  en- 
tered the  ministry,  viz.,  if  I  had  any  influence,  not  to  hesi- 
tate to  sacrifice  it,  if  need  be,  to  the  good  of  the  Church.  In 
this  matter  I  may  have  misjudged  ;  but  I  confess  I  tremble 
for  the  consequences  of  this  ultra-abolition  doctrine.  I  think 
its  ultimate  tendency,  nay,  the  aim,  of  some  of  the  leaders 
in  this  business,  is  the  dismemberment  of  the  political  union 
and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  If  you,  my  dear 
sir,  and  other  fathers  in  the  Church,  see  any  danger  of  this 
kind,  ought  you  not  to  let  your  voices  be  heard  ?  Perhaps 
I  am  in  an  error  here,  and  the  danger  is  only  in  my  mind. 
May  it  prove  so.  But  what  other  result  can  possibly  follow, 
if  all  the  North  get  excited  in  opposition  to  the  South  ?" 

Dr.  Fisk  was  not  unfrequently  stigmatized  as  a  pro-slavery 
man,  as  though  he  was  a  theoretical  supporter  of  the  institu- 
tion. Nothing  could  be  more  unfounded.  His  sentiments 
on  the  subject  were  essentially  Wesleyan.  Disapproving 
of  the  system,  he  was  in  favour  of  meeting  it  just  as  Chris- 
tianity met  the  slavery  of  the  Roman  Empire,  and  as  the 
apostles  of  Methodism  did  the  slavery  of  the  West  India 
Islands.  He  sought  to  leaven  the  public  mind  with  evangel- 
ical principles,  and  would  leave  the  political  bearings  of  the 
subject  to  political  men.  He  fully  believed  that,  when  the 
public  mind  should  become  fully  imbued  with  Christian  prin- 
ciples, the  acts  of  legislatures,  which  are  but  expressions  of 


CANDOUR  TO  HIS  OPPONENTS. 


327 


the  mind  of  the  people,  would  be  in  accordance  with  her  re- 
quisitions. Yet,  anxious  to  maintain  a  just  medium  between 
extremes  of  pro-slavery  and  ultra-abolitionism,  he  sometimes 
felt  the  effect  of  conflicting  elements,  and  found  it  not  al- 
ways easy  to  avoid  vibrating  to  one  side  or  the  other.  A 
remark  of  his  own  indicates  his  habitual  jealousy  of  himself: 
"  It  requires,"  he  said,  to  Professor  Whedon,  "  it  requires 
an  effort  in  my  own  mind,  in  opposing  the  ultra  denuncia- 
tions of  the  South,  not  to  look  too  favourably  on  what  is  re- 
ally wrong  ;  nevertheless,  the  balance  must  be  kept." 

We  have  already  had  evidence  of  our  author's  candour 
and  liberality  towards  his  opponents.  We  find  additional 
proof  of  it  in  the  Abolition  Controversy.  When  he  issued  his 
protest  against  the  "  unauthorized  transformation,"  he  dis- 
tinguished properly  between  the  action  and  the  motive  of 
the  perpetrator.  With  the  latter  he  had  nothing  to  do. 
Motives  are  sacred  things,  which  rest  between  the  individual 
and  his  Maker.  He  only  impugned  the  action.  "  I  have 
no  unkind  feeling,"  he  says,  "  to  the  brother  whose  touch 
has,  without  the  aid  of  magic,  produced  the  metamorphosis. 
His.  motives  were  undoubtedly  good  :  he  was  influenced  by 
that  warmth  of  feeling,  which  has  impelled  him,  and  others 
who  were  associated  with  him,  into  measures  that  are  be- 
lieved by  many,  and  my  humble  self  among  them,  to  be 
fraught  with  impropriety  and  injury  ;  a  course  that  we  are 
all  liable  to  pursue  when  the  impulsive  feelings  of  our  na- 
ture preponderate  over  the  understanding."  Subsequently 
to  this,  finding  that  the  author  of  the  transformation  still  jus- 
tified his  conduct,  and  that,  on  the  other  hand,  many  were 
disposed  to  criminate  him  farther  than  was  proper,  he  pub- 
lished the  subjoined  paragraph  in  Zion's  Herald : 

"  Mr.  Editor, 

"  I  am  sorry  to  notice  that  both  Brother  Storrs,  and  his 
friends  for  him,  persist  in  maintaining  the  propriety  of  his 
course  in  respect  to  the  metamorphosis  of  my  Temperance 
Address.  If  Brother  S.  really  feels,  after  a  fair  review  of 
the  subject,  that  he  was  justified  in  that  course,  and  if  he 
also  justifies  the  personal  reflections  which  have  been  thrown 


328 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


out  in  the  paper  of  which  he  is  a  principal  proprietor,  in  ref- 
erence to  my  disclaimer,  I  can  only  say  he  does  not  view 
the  subject  as  I  view  it,  and  as  most  of  those  do  whose  opin- 
ions I  have  heard  and  read  on  the  subject.  Brother  Storrs 
may  rest  assured,  however,  that  my  Christian  regards  to- 
wards him  are  the  same  as  ever,  because  I  believe  the  error 
the  effect  of  an  honest  zeal,  which,  however,  is  not  according' 
to  knowledge. 

"  Brother  Storrs  is  hereby  farther  assured,  that  I  do  not 
consider  the  offence  of  so  high  a  character  as  seems  to  have 
been  attributed  to  it  by  some  of  the  public  periodicals.  He 
did  not  say  that  the  abolition  sentiments  were  mine.  It  is  true, 
those  who  did  not  know  my  sentiments  on  abolition  would, 
if  I  had  not  disclaimed  it,  naturally  have  supposed  that  I 
consented  to  such  a  use  of  my  composition,  especially  as 
Brother  S.  did  not  inform  the  public  that  I  had  not  consent- 
ed to  it,  nor  yet  that  I  was  not  a  modern  abolitionist.  I  did 
not,  however,  in  my  reply,  accuse  him  of  designing  to  rep- 
resent me  as  an  abolitionist,  and  I  regret  to  see  that  design 
attributed  to  him.  I  know  him  too  well  to  believe  he  would 
knowingly  misrepresent  the  opinions  of  another,  or  take  what 
he  believed  to  be  improper  means  to  propagate  his  own 
opinions  ;  and  I  thought  I  knew  him  well  enough  to  be- 
lieve that,  when  his  attention  was  recalled  to  a  step  improper 
in  itself,  he  would  see  it  and  retract.  But  if  I  was  mistaken 
in  this,  I  have  no  more  to  say  on  that  point :  the  public  have 
my  views.  W.  Fisk. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  April  9,  1835." 

We  shall  not  follow  the  details  of  this  exciting  topic,  since 
it  would  be  as  unprofitable  to  the  reader  as  unsatisfactory  to 
ourselves.  It  was  debated  on  both  sides  with  an  ardour  cor- 
responding with  the  interests  that  were  believed  to  be  in- 
volved. The  effects,  for  the  time,  were  unhappy ;  so  much 
so  as  to  lead  Dr.  Fisk  to  resign  his  seat  in  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1836,  to  which  he  was  elected  at  the  session  of 
the  New-England  Conference  of  the  present  year  (1835). 
The  reason  for  this  step  was  a  conviction  "  that  the  entire 
election,  himself  alone  excepted,  was  carried  on  party  prin- 


SPEECH  BEFORE  THE  AMERICAN  UNION. 


329 


ciples,  and  such  principles  as  ought  not  to  be  brought  in  an 
election  in  this  Conference."  His  resignation  and  the  rea- 
son were  entered  on  the  New-England  Conference  Journal. 

About  this  period,  if  we  mistake  not,  was  formed  the 
"  American  Union  for  the  Relief  and  Improvement  of  the 
Coloured  Race."  Dr.  Fisk,  anticipating  favourable  results 
from  this  association,  yielded  it  his  support.  Being  in  Bos- 
ton in  1835,  at  the  time  of  its  anniversary,  he  delivered 
there  an  address,  in  which  he  sustained  the  proposition, 
"  That  in  every  specific  enterprise  of  benevolence,  it  be- 
comes an  enlightened  philanthropy  carefully  to  consider, 
not  only  the  particular  condition,  but  the  social  relations 
also,  of  those  whose  good  is  designed  ;  and,  in  view  of  these, 
the  measures  should  be  wisely  adapted  to  the  end  propo- 
sed." The  address  was  characterized  by  comprehensive 
views,  deep  thought,  and  sound  philosophy.  He  showed 
that  this  is  an  age  of  strong  feeling,  and  that  there  is  in  ev- 
erything a  tendency  to  ultraism ;  that  the  most  highly- wrought 
emotion  is  not  always  true  philanthropy,  and  that,  under  in- 
tense emotion,  it  is  all-important  to  follow  an  enlightened 
judgment  in  our  measures.  Towards  the  close  of  the  speech 
he  spoke  of  the  probability  of  the  coloured  and  white  races 
dwelling  together  in  a  state  of  political  equality.  In  a  form 
of  government  like  ours  especially,  where  all  political  rights 
must  take  their  origin  from  the  domestic  and  private  relations, 
he  thought  it  not  very  feasible.  At  this  point,  Mr.  George 
Thompson,  who  was  present,  and  sat  near  him,  interrupt- 
ed him  by  saying,  "  I  should  like  to  see  it  tried."  The  or- 
ator, without  being  in  the  least  discomposed,  promptly  an- 
swered, "  Will  the  gentleman  give  proof  of  his  sincerity  by 
setting  the  example  ?"  and  then  resumed  his  discourse.  M  I 
do  not  assert,"  said  Dr.  F.,  "  the  superiority  of  the  florid 
over  the  coloured  countenance,  but  I  say  the  two  races  have 
been  separated  by  the  Almighty  himself  by  the  strong  lines 
of  climate,  country,  and  colour ;  and  it  is,  perhaps,  because 
man  has  rudely  broken  through  these  lines,  and  deranged 
the  order  of  nature,  that  the  evils  we  at  present  suffer  have 
come  upon  us.  It  is  for  us  now  to  repair  the  evil  in  the 
best  way  we  can.  For  this  purpose,  Dr.  F.  inculcated  the 
28*  Tt 


330 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


necessity  of  caution,  conciliation,  and  careful  observation 
and  inquiry — the  means  intended  to  be  employed  by  this 
association." 

This  naturally  introduces  us  to  another  subject.  It  is  well 
known  that  Dr.  Fisk  had  long  been  the  decided  advocate  of 
African  colonization.  He  thought  that  he  saw  in  it  the  only 
hope  of  the  African  race  on  both  continents.  Whether  his 
opinions  were  rightly  formed  or  not,  it  is  not  our  intention 
to  inquire  ;  but,  whatever  may  be  thought  of  this,  no  liberal 
mind  can  deny  that  he  was  honest,  disinterested,  and  benev- 
olent in  maintaining  them.  His  sole  aim  was  the  elevation, 
and  salvation,  and  freedom  of  the  wretched  sons  of  Ham. 
But  we  prefer  giving  on  this  subject  his  own  eloquent  and 
spirit-stirring  language.  It  is  extracted  from  his  Protest 
against  the  "unauthorized  transformation :" 

"  Finally,  I  object  against  the  abuse  of  the  '  address,'  be- 
cause it  thus  makes  use  of  my  words  to  commend  the  la- 
bours of  Mr.  Birney,  which,  since  this  is  Mr.  Birney's  pri- 
mary object,  is  the  same  as  commending  the  dissolution  of 
the  Colonization  Society  ;  and  this,  with  my  present  views,  I 
could  never  do.  What !  commend  the  dissolution  of  that 
society  which  has  done  more  than  anything  else  to  excite  '  a 
healthy  public  sentiment'  in  favour  of  the  man  of  colour, 
Mr.  Birney's  reasoning  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding  ? 
A  society  that  has  indirectly  liberated  more  slaves,  proba- 
bly, than  all  the  anti-slavery  societies  of  our  country,  from 
the  beginning  until  now  ?  A  society  which  the  unprincipled 
slaveholder  hates  and  dreads,  because  it  leads  to  abolition  ; 
and  the  ultra-abolitionist  opposes,  because  it  stands  in  the 
way  of  his  dangerous  high-pressure  engine  ?  A  society 
which,  by  a  successful  experiment,  makes  fair  promise  of 
giving  to  the  world  a  convincing  and  extended  exhibition 
of  negro  elevation,  moral,  intellectual,  and  social  ?  A  so- 
ciety that  has  done  more  to  put  down  the  African  slave-trade 
than  has  been  done  by  the  decisions  of  kingly  courts  and 
republican  Congresses  ?  A  society  that  holds  its  banner 
over  the  missionary  of  the  cross  on  the  very  shores  of  pa- 
ganism, and  has  already  opened  up  a  passage  of  civilization 
and  salvation  into  the  interior  of  that  dark  continent  ?  Dis- 


AFRICAN  COLONIZATION. 


331 


solve  this  society  ?  No  !  Forbid  it,  Heaven  !  Rather  let 
Christian  sympathy  gather  around  it,  and  Christian  munifi- 
cence sustain  it,  until  it  shall  become  the  light  of  Africa,  and 
the  glory  of  her  sons  in  both  hemispheres."  Such  were  his 
conscientious  views,  and,  consequently,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  lend  his  most  strenuous  support  to  this  enterprise.  Many 
of  his  ablest  and  most  eloquent  addresses  were  in  behalf  of 
its  interests.  On  these  occasions,  his  comprehensive  views, 
range  of  information,  clear  style,  felicity  of  illustration,  and 
ardent  feelings,  generally  captivated  his  auditories,  and  held 
them  as  though  spellbound  ;  and  on  one  occasion,  in  the 
North  Congregational  Church  in  Middletown,  though  the 
audience  were  accustomed  to  hear  him,  so  strong  was  the 
sensation  created,  that  no  sooner  had  he  resumed  his  seat 
than  a  gentleman  on  the  platform — a  clergyman  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church — rose  instantly,  expressed  his  grati- 
fication that  their  town  was  ornamented  and  blessed  with 
such  talents,  and  moved  an  immediate  request  that  a  copy 
of  the  address  just  delivered  might  be  furnished  for  publica- 
tion. The  motion  was  carried  by  acclamation.  The  reader 
will  find  the  address  in  question  among  Dr.  Fisk's  works. 

Dr.  Fisk's  addresses  were  usually  marked  by  the  charac- 
teristics of  a  sound  judgment  and  a  well-furnished  mind, 
rather  than  by  brilliancy  of  imagination.  He  had  usually 
enough  of  the  latter  to  impart  interest  and  rivet  attention ; 
but  imagination  was  not  his  predominant  faculty.  His 
speeches  and  sermons  were  therefore  able  rather  than  splen- 
did. In  some  cases,  however,  he  threw  aside  the  cool,  de- 
liberate manner  of  the  reasoner  and  instructer,  and  plunged 
with  all  his  soul  into  the  midst  of  his  theme.  Then  he  would 
play  upon  the  feelings  of  his  audience  like  a  skilful  organ- 
ist upon  the  keys  of  his  instrument.  But  such  attempts 
were  not  frequent,  and  always  made  with  good  judgment. 
On  a  certain  occasion,  in  the  same  church,  and,  it  is  believ- 
ed, on  the  same  subject,  he  had  to  follow  several  very  dis- 
tinguished speakers.  The  exercises  had  already  been  pro- 
tracted, the  audience  was  getting  weary,  and  was  looking 
with  some  impatience  for  the  last  speaker,  knowing,  proba- 
bly, that  Dr.  Fisk  was  not  remarkable  for  short  addresses. 


332 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


But  no  man  knew  himself  better,  or  better  understood  fitness 
and  propriety.  Instead  of  a  deliberate,  thoughtful  discourse, 
by  the  aid  of  his  vivid  imagination  and  ardent  feelings  he 
threw  off  a  sparkling,  brilliant  rocket,  that  astonished  and  daz- 
zled the  assembly.  He  held  them  for  a  few  minutes  almost 
breathless.  "  It  was  very  short,"  said  a  well  educated  and 
highly  intelligent  gentleman  to  me  when  speaking  of  it ;  "  it 
was  very  short,  but  it  was,  to  be  sure,  a  splendid  little  mor- 
sel." As  no  minutes  were  kept,  the  purport  of  it  is  not  re- 
membered. 

The  period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived  was  probably 
the  culminating  point  of  Dr.  Fisk's  power  as  a  public  speak- 
er. With  the  fire  of  his  youth,  he  possessed  also  the  polish, 
the  taste,  the  dignity  of  mature  age  and  experience.  He 
had  already  placed  himself  in  a  very  commanding  attitude 
before  the  public,  and  especially  the  Christian  community. 
In  the  month  of  May,  1835,  he  took  another  flight  still  higher 
than  any  former.  This  was  at  the  anniversary  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society,  held  in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle.  The 
address  he  delivered  on  this  occasion,  take  it  for  all  and  all, 
was  probably  the  happiest  specimen  of  his  abilities.  It  ex- 
hibited all  the  mental  qualities  we  have  already  ascribed  to 
him.  His  survey  of  his  subject  was  ample,  and  the  address 
abounds  with  thought  and  information,  just  views,  and  strong 
sense.  These  are  enlivened  by  a  happy  mixture  of  fancy  and 
imagination,  and  are  strongly  impregnated  with  emotion. 
The  resolution  which  he  was  requested  to  support  was,  in 
substance,  that  the  friends  of  the  Bible,  of  every  religious 
denomination,  be  invited  to  co-operate  in  placing  a  copy  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  hands  of  every  child  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  under  fifteen  years  of  age,  who  might  be  able  to 
read,  but  destitute  of  the  sacred  volume.  He  commenced 
in  his  usual  simple,  unpretending  manner,  and  after  a  few 
introductory  sentences,  proceeded  thus:  "When  I  take  by 
faith  an  enlarged  view  of  the  future,  and  contemplate  that 
vast  assembly  of  youth  who,  should  the  terms  of  this  reso- 
lution be  complied  with,  will  receive  each  a  copy  of  the 
Word  of  God  ;  when  I  see  those  children  gathered  into  one 
company,  with  each  a  Bible  in  his  hand,  the  exhibition  is 


ADDRESS  BEFORE  THE  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  333 

more  than  beautiful — it  is  sublime.  When  I  read  the  resolu- 
tion," he  continued,  "  in  my  study,  it  went  through  my  soul 
in  a  thrill  of  ecstasy,  and,  indeed,  I  have  scarcely  been  able 
to  think  of  anything  else  since.  And  is  it  indeed  so  ?  I 
thank  God — I  thank  the  American  Bible  Society,  that  all  our 
young  children  are  to  be  supplied  with  the  Bible  !  This, 
indeed,  is  like  a  new  sun  rising  over  our  already  favoured 
and  happy  land."  In  this  strain  he  proceeded  for  some 
time,  and  then  he  launched  forth  into  a  wider  sea.  He  took 
a  view  of  some  of  the  leading  characteristics  of  the  age 
which  especially  demand  the  conservative  influence  of  the 
word  of  God.  It  is  a  "  transition  age"  full  of  change — im- 
pulse— excitement.  "  Go  ahead"  is  the  motto,  and  nothing 
but  a  railroad  speed  will  answer.  But  the  Bible  is  the  great 
regulator.  It  is  the  mental  and  moral  balance-wheel  that 
keeps  the  machinery  of  the  world  in  order.  "  The  Bible — 
the  Bible  must  direct  and  control  the  wheels  of  government, 
the  principles  of  education,  the  character  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration :  this  is  our  spiritual  palladium,  the  glory  of  the 
churches,  the  honour  of  our  nation,  the  salvation  of  the 
world." 

But  we  cannot  follow  in  his  train  of  glowing  and  com- 
prehensive thought.  The  address  is  beautiful  throughout : 
now  it  is  wise  and  reflective  ;  then  brilliant  with  trope  and 
metaphor  ;  then  sportive  and  playful ;  and  anon,  touching 
and  pathetic.  On  the  catholic  feature  of  his  resolution  he 
remarked,  "A  Sectarian  Bible  Society!  What  a  contra- 
diction !  I  know,  indeed,  that  the  branch  of  Christ's  Church 
to  which  I  belong  did  establish  a  separate  Bible  Society, 
but  it  was  a  measure  I  could  not  approve.  I  always  spoke 
against  it,  and  voted  against  it,  and  I  believe  I  always  shall." 
Then  he  added,  while  the  fire  beamed  from  his  eye,  and  his 
whole  countenance  became  radiant  with  Christian  feeling, 
"  Let  us  have  but  one  sect  !  Let  us  all  belong  to  the  great 
Bible  sect  of  America  ;"  and  now  low  murmurs  of  appro- 
bation are  heard  throughout  the  house. 

Then  he  changes  the  current  of  his  remarks,  and  in  a  tone 
of  half  raillery,  replies  to  the  pseudo-political  economist's 
objection,  that  these  schemes  of  benevolence  "  will  impov- 


i 


334 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


erish  the  nation."  "  Now,  sir,"  said  the  orator,  "  I  am  one 
of  those  who  do  not  believe  one  word  of  this.  We  are  in 
no  danger,  as  a  people,  of  dying  of  consumption  ;  our  danger 
lies  the  other  way  ;  we  are  rather  in  danger  of  dying  of 
plethora."  Then  he  urges  the  depleting  system  as  the  only 
way  of  guarding  against  the  destructive  influence  of  luxury, 
sensuality,  and  selfishness.  Benevolence,  too,  has  a  reno- 
vating power.  "  It  gives  one  and  gets  ten."  He  then,  for 
the  sake  of  illustration,  introduces  an  extended  figure  of  the 
rotation  of  water  from  the  ocean  to  clouds,  from  the  clouds 
to  the  earth,  and  so  back  again  to  the  ocean.  The  figure  it- 
self is  trite  ;  but  in  this  case  it  was  happily  introduced,  beau- 
tifully applied,  and  admirably  sustained.  Several  distin- 
guished clergymen,  of  different  denominations,  pronounced 
this  address  the  finest  they  had  ever  heard  in  their  lives.  A 
report  of  it,  taken  on  the  spot,  was  afterward  published  in 
the  New- York  Observer  ;  and  although  such  a  report  must 
necessarily  fall  short  of  the  original,  yet  it  is  sufficiently  ap- 
parent that  it  possessed  much  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
Dr.  Fisk  admitted  that  no  speech  of  his  was  ever  reported 
more  correctly.  Should  a  volume  of  Dr.  Fisk's  works  be 
called  for  by  the  public,  this  address  will,  most  likely,  be 
contained  in  it. 

This  is  a  favourable  opportunity  for  attempting  some 
sketch  of  our  subject  as  a  preacher.  He  was  now,  as  re- 
marked in  relation  to  the  other  department,  at  the  zenith  of 
his  excellence.  Shortly  after  this,  his  physical  strength  be- 
gan to  abate,  so  that,  though  his  mind  retained  all  its  vig- 
our, yet,  for  want  of  bodily  energy,  he  failed  of  producing 
his  former  effect.  But  to  describe  him  accurately  would 
require  the  graphic  pen  of  a  Wirt ;  yet,  as  duty  requires,  we 
must  present  some  suggestions,  merely  to  aid  the  concep- 
tions of  the  reader. 

Much  of  what  has  been  already  said  will  apply  to  his  per- 
formances in  the  pulpit  as  well  as  on  the  platform.  Part, 
also,  of  our  former  description  of  his  preaching*  will  apply 
equally  well  to  the  present  period  ;  yet  it  had  undergone 
some  important  modifications.    The  elements  were  there, 

*  See  page  94. 


DR.  FISK  AS  A  PREACHER. 


335 


and  the  germe;  but  these  had  expanded,  were  matured,  and 
had  become  more  beautiful  to  the  eye  and  delightful  to  the 
mind. 

Dr.  Fisk's  appearance  in  the  pulpit  was  highly  prepossess- 
ing, not  so  much  for  an  air  of  artificial  elegance  and  refine- 
ment, as  for  the  intellectual,  elevated  cast  of  countenance, 
admirable  phrenological  development,  and  an  unaffected 
simplicity,  modesty,  and  dignified  gravity.  His  head  was 
classically  beautiful,  and  his  bright,  mild,  benevolent  eye 
beamed  with  intelligence  and  thought.  His  appearance  was 
eminently  spiritual ;  yet  his  whole  person  indicated  more  the 
Christian  virtues  than  the  heroic,  more  the  gentle  and  sub- 
dued temper  than  the  grand  and  lofty. 

In  action  he  was  not  very  remarkable.  He  was  easy,  dig- 
nified, and  natural,  but  not  in  the  highest  degree  elegant  and 
oratorical,  and  as  far  as  simplicity  can  be  from  the  histrionic. 
His  voice  was  not  very  deep  and  strong,  but  distinct,  varied, 
and  musical.  In  tenderness  and  pathos  it  was  perhaps  un- 
surpassed. 

He  usually  commenced  his  sermons  with  the  enunciation 
of  a  few  simple  propositions,  in  a  style  perfectly  natural  and 
familiar.  Sometimes,  however,  his  exordiums  were  more 
profound  and  elaborate.  The  doctrine  of  his  text  was  ac- 
curately drawn  out  and  clearly  stated,  and  in  few  words  he 
would  announce  the  divisions  of  his  discourse.  You  now 
saw  the  hand  of  a  master.  You  are  not  astounded,  how- 
ever, by  the  affectedly  intellectual,  nor  by  splendour  of  lan- 
guage, nor  captivated  by  extraordinary  beauty  of  style.  But 
new  views  begin  to  break  upon  you.  Your  mind  looks  this 
way  and  that,  and  you  are  astonished  at  the  vistas  of  thought 
which  open  before  you.  Yet  it  is  all  so  easy  and  natural, 
that  the  preacher  does  not  seem  to  be  doing  wonderful 
things  so  much  as  that  he  is  enabling  you  to  do  wonderful 
things.  He  is  eminently  suggestive.  You  feel  as  if  you 
might  have  thought  it  all  yourself  if  you  could  only  have  hit 
upon  the  starting  points.  This  is  the  perfection  of  simplicity 
— of  naivete.  The  last  thing  the  speaker  seems  to  think  of  is 
showing  off  himself.  He  is  evidently  intent  on  putting  you 
in  possession  of  his  own  thoughts  in  the  easiest  and  shortest 


336 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


way  possible.  There  is  but  little  imagery  :  all  is  whole- 
some, solid  food  for  the  understanding.  Occasionally  you 
see  the  professor  or  philosopher  in  his  turn  of  thought,  modes 
of  statement,  and  illustration  ;  and  sometimes  his  discourses 
are  too  philosophical  to  be  in  the  highest  degree  evangelical ; 
certainly  too  much  so  to  be  imitated  by  inferior  minds.  But, 
notwithstanding,  you  feel  that  the  speaker  is  endeavouring 
to  make  you  wiser  and  better. 

Thus  he  passes  along  the  body  of  his  discourse.  If  he 
have  preached  before  on  that  day,  or  for  any  cause  his 
nerves  are  unstrung  or  his  feelings  out  of  tune,  he  closes, 
and  leaves  upon  you  the  impression  that  he  is  an  intellect- 
ual and  able,  but  plain  preacher.  But  hear  him  when  he  is 
in  good  health  and  spirits ;  when  his  mind  is  itself,  untram- 
melled by  bodily  ailments,  and  in  unexhausted  vigour,  and 
when  he  is  about  two  thirds  through  his  discourse,  or  earlier, 
he  begins  to  kindle,  and  flash,  and  electrify ;  his  imagina- 
tion begins  to  play ;  his  feelings  seem  to  fire  by  the  velocity 
of  his  mental  action,  above  all,  by  the  elevating  nature  of  his 
themes ;  and  now,  seizing  some  strong  hold,  he  pours  all  his 
artillery  full  upon  the  heart.  He  raises  you  up  and  sinks 
you  down  again  ;  he  weeps,  and  you  weep  with  him.  He 
turns  your  thoughts  upon  the  sufferings  of  the  Lamb,  and 
you  are  melted ;  or  paints  the  splendours  of  the  New  Jeru- 
salem, and  you  are  ravished  with  ecstasy.  Now  the  audi- 
ence are  bathed  in  tears  of  humble  love,  or  transported  with 
raptures  of  heavenly  joy.  And  now  come  forth  unequivo- 
cal, audible  testimony  to  the  eloquence  and  power  of  the 
preacher.  Sighs  and  tears,  and  perhaps  shouts,  are  heard 
around  you.  Thus 

"  The  live  fountain  in  the  speaker's  heart 
Sends  forth  the  streams  that  melt  the  ravish'd  hearers." 

A  striking  instance  is  given  of  the  power  of  his  oratory, 
while  preaching  on  a  certain  occasion  in  the  large  church  in 
Forsyth-street,  New- York.  Having  finished  the  discussion 
of  his  subject,  he  addressed  himself  directly  to  the  heart  and 
conscience.  He  described  the  danger  of  the  wicked  man  : 
his  exposure,  his  constant  liability  to  death.  He  followed 
him  to  the  brink  of  Death's  dark  precipice,  and  painted  him 


DR.  FISK  AS  A  PREACHER. 


337 


plunging  over  the  edge  into  perdition's  gulf.  The  whole 
scene  is  vividly  before  the  eye.  A  preacher  sitting  below 
him  in  the  altar  suddenly  and  unconsciously  throws  out  his 
arms  to  catch  the  sinner  in  his  fall,  and  carry  him  in  faith  to 
the  Lamb  of  God  1*    This  is  eloquence. 

It  was  after  one  of  these  displays  of  powerful  Christian 
oratory  in  the  chapel  of  the  University,  that  a  lady  of  culti- 
vated mind,  decided  genius,  and  strong  feeling — a  stranger 
in  the  place — as  she  came  away,  said  to  another,  with  a  half- 
stifled  voice,  "  Have  you  any  irreligious  students  in  your 
college  ?"  and,  on  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  added, 
"  Astonishing !" 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  as  substantial  thought 
formed  the  basis  of  his  eloquence,  the  emotions  he  excited 
were  not  less  strong  than  permanent.  It  was  far  different 
from  that  evanescent  and  superficial  feeling  that  is  generally 
produced  by  those  of  whom  Cowper  says, 

"Like  quicksilver  their  rhetoric  they  display, 
Shines  as  it  runs,  but,  grasp'd  at,  slips  away." 

Such  as  we  have  described  was  Dr.  Fisk  in  his  most  fa- 
voured moments  in  the  pulpit.  A  few,  and  only  a  few,  such 
sermons  was  it  our  privilege  to  hear  from  him.  It  was  not 
until  about  the  period  of  which  we  write  that  I  began  to  hear 
him  frequently,  and  then  his  best  preaching  days  were  over. 
In  the  chapel  of  the  University  his  sermons  were  more 
familiar,  and  with  less  effort ;  but  he  was  always  able  and 
instructive,  generally  animated,  and  on  some  few  occasions 
reached  his  highest  flights.  In  my  sketch,  my  feelings  led 
me  to  employ  the  present  tense.  Alas !  that  sober  reality 
throws  our  thoughts  back  again  on  the  past.  His  preaching 
and  his  labours  are  among  the  things  that  were,  but  are  no 
longer.    Who  shall  see  and  hear  another  Fisk  ?f 

Dr.  Fisk's  labours  had  now  made  fearful  inroads  upon  his 
naturally  frail  constitution.  Not  that  he  appeared  to  a  cas- 
ual observer  nearer  the  grave  than  he  had  been  for  the  last 

*  See  Dr.  Bangs's  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Dr.  Fisk. 

t  Those  who  wish  to  see  a  more  philosophic  and  intellectual  analysis  of  Dr. 
Fisk's  character  as  a  preacher,  may  consult  Professor  Whedon's  "  Tribute  to  the 
Memory  of  President  Fisk." 

29  Un 


338 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ten  years ;  but  to  those  who  knew  him  intimately  the  truth 
was  painfully  evident.  His  state  of  health  would  have  ut- 
terly incapacitated  most  men  for  exertion,  and  hence  the 
great  admiration  of  his  friends  at  the  amount  of  labour  he 
accomplished.  This  admiration  was  increased  by  the  inva- 
riable and  invincible  sweetness  of  his  disposition.  Dr.  Orme 
has  thought  it  necessary  to  apologize  for  Baxter's  irritability 
of  temper,  by  ascribing  it  to  his  various  maladies.  We  have 
no  need  of  such  an  apology  for  our  subject.  Greater  equa- 
nimity, kindness,  and  patience  we  never  saw.  Some  have 
remarked  a  slight  reserve  of  manner  at  times  in  his  study, 
but  without  any  appearance  of  impatience  or  of  irritation. 
The  same  amiability  appeared  in  his  demeanour  in  his  fami- 
ly. Here,  where  the  inner  man  appears  without  disguise  or 
concealment,  he  was  as  lovely  as  to  the  transient  guest. 

The  year  1834,  as  we  have  already  seen,  was  particularly 
trying  to  him.  His  exertions  in  the  revival,  his  frequent 
journeys, *  with  the  alarming  illness  which  has  been  already 
mentioned,  had  brought  him  very  low.  These  things  re- 
vived in  his  mind  a  project  which  he  had  contemplated  at 
intervals  for  some  years,  namely,  of  making  a  voyage  to 
Europe.  On  this  subject  he  now  consulted  his  most  com- 
petent advisers,  especially  Dr.  Sewall,  of  Washington,  who 
approved  the  project  under  these  restrictions:  that  he  should 
take  Mrs.  Fisk  with  him,  of  whose  skill  and  attention  in 
sickness  he  had  had  such  ample  experience  ;  and  should 
make  every  object  subservient  to  his  health.  He  found  the 
advantage  of  Dr.  Sevvall's  advice  in  Mrs.  Fisk's  assiduous 
attentions  during  his  alarming  illness  at  Pisa. 

Dr.  Fisk  had  been  too  long  accustomed  to  consult  the  Di- 
vine Will  to  take  any  important  step  without  asking  "  counsel 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Lord."  He  made  his  contemplated 
voyage  the  subject  of  earnest  prayer,  and  consulted  some 
of  the  most  spiritually  minded  of  his  brethren  to  ascertain 
what  was  duty  in  the  case.  His  ultimate  conclusion  was 
that  he  ought  to  go.  Is  it  not  as  important,  at  least,  to  in- 
quire what  effect  any  measure  is  likely  to  exert  upon  our 

*  He  travelled,  for  various  purposes,  not  less  than  six  hundred  miles  between 
the  1st  of  January  and  his  departure  for  Europe. 


PREPARES  FOR  HIS  EUROPEAN  TOUR. 


339 


piety,  as  to  ask  what  influence  it  will  have  upon  health, 
wealth,  or  reputation  ?    So,  at  any  rate,  thought  Dr.  Fisk. 

The  Wesleyan  University,  now  past  the  period  of  its  in- 
fancy, had  waxed  into  a  vigorous  adolescence.  Its  friends 
were  anxious  to  place  it  on  the  most  solid  foundation,  and 
furnish  it  with  all  the  materials  for  imparting  a  thorough  and 
elevated  course  of  instruction.  For  this  purpose,  it  was  im- 
portant to  make  some  additions  to  the  philosophical  appara- 
tus, and  to  the  library,  especially  in  the  recent  scientific  works 
of  Europe. 

Hence,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Joint  Board  of  the  Wesley- 
an University,  it  was  resolved  to  give  the  president  a  com- 
mission to  Europe,  for  the  twofold  purpose  of  benefiting  his 
health  and  advancing  the  interests  of  the  institution. 

But  before  his  departure  he  was  destined  to  undergo  an- 
other probation  of  his  life.  In  the  month  of  October  he  vis- 
ited New- York  on  business  for  the  institution,  and  on  his  re- 
turn was  again  confined  to  his  bed,  and  remained  for  sever- 
al weeks  under  the  physician's  care.  His  symptoms  now 
seemed  to  indicate  a  rapid  consumption.  He  had  profuse 
night-sweats,  with  chills,  and  such  a  coldness  of  the  extrem- 
ities that  it  was  impossible  to  raise  a  vital  warmth ;  a  dis- 
tressing stricture  in  the  chest,  and  an  aggravated  cough. 
But,  as  usual,  when  he  began  to  recover  he  resumed  his  ex- 
ertions. While  yet  able  to  sit  up  only  a  part  of  each  day, 
several  meetings  of  the  prudential  committee  were  held  in 
his  room.  But  there  was,  at  that  time,  some  important  and 
perplexing  business  to  be  adjusted,  connected  with  arrange- 
ments in  the  University  during  his  absence,  and  which  made 
his  presence  indispensable.  By  these,  and  some  other 
means,  his  voyage  was  delayed  until  the  autumn  of  1835. 

We  retard  the  progress  of  our  narrative  for  a  short  time, 
for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the  following  letters,  the  for- 
mer to  his  mother,  who  had  again  met  with  a  serious  disas- 
ter ;  the  other  to  Mrs.  Childs,  of  Cazenovia,  New- York,  on 
the  death  of  her  husband. 


340 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Middletown,  January  25,  1835. 

"  My  dear  Mother, 

"  It  gives  me  great  pain  to  learn,  as  I  did  by  sister  Mary's 
letter,  that  you  had  met  with  another  fall ;  and  especially 
have  I  been  afflicted  at  the  painful  and  aggravated  circum- 
stances of  that  fall.  My  imagination  has  again  and  again 
run  over  the  occurrence  :  the  fall  itself ;  the  dislocation  of 
so  many  limbs,  and  the  bruising  of  others  ;  the  hours  of  pain 
you  passed  in  this  bruised  and  mangled  state  ;  the  painful 
ride  of  twelve  miles*  in  this  condition,  in  such  severe  weath- 
er, in  which  you  must  have  suffered  much  from  pain  and 
cold,  and  father  must  have  suffered  much,  also,  from  cold 
and  anxiety.  The  only  relief  to  my  feelings  in  this  review 
is,  that  it  is  past,  and  you  are  now  better.  Perhaps  it  is 
in  mercy  to  us  that  our  heavenly  Father  conceals  from  us 
often  the  sufferings  of  our  friends.  I  was  myself  ill,  and 
confined  at  home  at  that  time  ;  but  I  was  free  from  distress- 
ing pain,  was  surrounded  by  kind  friends,  and  was  seated 
by  a  comfortable  fire  ;  but  how  insupportable  would  my 
feelings  have  been,  if  I  had  known,  at  the  time,  that  you 
were  in  such  circumstances  of  distress  ?  The  Father  of 
mercies,  however,  sustained  your  life,  and,  I  hope,  kept  your 
soul  in  peace.  It  seems,  my  dear  mother,  that  our  Father 
in  heaven  sees  it  best  for  you  to  suffer  much  in  your  old 
age.  To  be  bruised  and  broken  so  severely  three  times  in 
a  few  years,  is  unusual ;  but  the  religion  you  have  enjoyed 
has  no  doubt  made  you  feel  that  all  is  right.  '  As  many 
as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and  chastise,'  is  the  language  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  What  proof  you  have  that  God  loves  you  !  I  doubt 
not  but  you  are  laying  up  in  store  a  glorious  treasure  by 
these  sufferings.  The  heart  will  thus  be  driven,  by  God's 
grace,  from  all  its  selfish  retreats,  and  any  remaining  earthly 
ties  will  be  severed.  May  God  bless  and  sustain  you,  and 
grant  you  the  riches  of  his  grace  here,  and  of  his  glory  here- 
after. 

"I  am  truly  thankful  that  sister  Mary  is  with  you,  to  at- 
tend to  your  wants,  and  take  care  of  you.    Her  attentions 
will  more  than  compensate  for  my  lack  of  service,  which  I 
*  Judge  Fisk  and  lady  were  travelling  in  a  sleigh  at  some  distance  from  home. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


341 


so  clearly  owe  you  for  watching  over  my  pillow  in  early  and 
helpless  childhood,  and  in  sickness  in  later  years.  Although, 
of  the  two,  I  have  received  most  of  parental  care  and  solici- 
tude, yet  upon  her  mainly  falls  the  duty  of  filial  attention 
and  service.  If  Providence  permitted,  I  would  cheerfully 
share  it  with  her.  Verily  she  shall  not  lose  her  reward  ; 
piety  towards  parents  never  goes  unrequited. 

"  Since  hearing  of  your  misfortune,  I  have  thought  of  an 
expression  of  old  Mrs.  P.,  our  brother  P.'s  mother.  Her 
head  had  been  broken  and  permanently  deformed  by  a  hurt 
from  a  horse ;  but  says  she,  in  love-feast,  on  a  certain  oc- 
casion, 1  When  I  get  to  heaven,  I  shall  have  as  sound  a  head 
as  any  of  you.'  Your  limbs  had  become  stiff  and  enfeebled 
independent  of  fractures  and  dislocations ;  you  would  soon 
need  a  new  edition,  at  any  rate — much  more  after  these  in- 
juries. But  *  these  vile  bodies  shall  be  fashioned  like  unto 
Christ's  most  glorious  body  ;'  then  shall  your  poor  fractured 
frame  be  strung  anew  with  ligaments  that  shall  never  be  lux- 
ated, and  with  limbs  of  ethereal  elasticity  and  heavenly  pol- 
ish, that  shall  never  be  fractured.  What  a  consolation  are 
thoughts  like  these  to  a  decrepit  and  suffering  Christian ! 
Such  a  consolation,  my  dear  mother,  I  doubt  not,  is  yours. 

"  My  own  health  has  been  poor  ever  since  I  returned  from 
New- York.  I  preached  last  Sabbath  for  the  first  time  for 
about  nine  weeks.  I  am  now  much  better  than  I  have  been. 
I  hope  some  one  of  the  family  will  write  again  soon,  that  we 
may  know  how  you  get  along.  We  all  join  in  love  to  you 
and  to  all  the  family. 

"  Your  affectionate  children,  W.  &  R.  Fisk." 

To  Mrs.  Childs. 

"  Middletown,  April  11th,  1835. 

"My  dear  Madam, 

11  Since  I  first  heard  of  the  death  of  your  lamented  hus- 
band, I  have  purposed  to  write  you  a  letter  of  condolence 
and  sympathy ;  and  yet  I  have  felt  almost  forbidden  to  ap- 
proach that  grief  which,  from  its  depth  and  the  bitterness  of 
its  anguish,  may  deem  this  well-meant  address  almost  an 
unwelcome  and  unseasonable  intrusion.  I  am  aware  that 
29* 


342 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


there  is  an  anguish  of  heart  that  is  sacred,  with  which  a 
stranger,  especially,  cannot  safely  intermeddle.  But,  al- 
though my  acquaintance  with  you,  personally,  has  not  been 
long  and  intimate,  yet  it  is  of  such  a  character,  and  is  so 
strengthened  by  an  intimacy  with  branches  of  your  family, 
that  I  claim  to  be  a  sharer  in  that  sorrow  which  has  sud- 
denly spread  a  gloom  over  the  whole  family  circle.  But 
what  shall  I  say  ?  If  I  speak  of  the  private  and  public  vir- 
tues of  your  deceased  husband,  to  which  his  numerous  ac- 
quaintances and  friends  bear  such  ample  testimony,  this  may 
seem  but  an  aggravation  of  the  loss.  If  I  cite  your  atten- 
tion to  your  remaining  blessings,  and  especially  to  the  circle 
of  affectionate  children,  who  cluster  like  gems  of  loveliness 
around  your  widowed  heart,  even  this  may  swell  the  heav- 
ing tide  of  sorrow,  when  you  remember  that  you  now  share 
these  blessings  alone,  and  that  your  children  are  fatherless. 
And  yet,  although  these  considerations  may  not  seem  to 
lessen  the  amount  of  grief,  they  certainly  will  mitigate  its 
bitterness.  If  the  lightning  stroke  has  riven  the  heart,  it  has 
not  dismantled  the  trunk.  While  your  children  are  around 
you,  your  leaf  shall  not  be  withered,  nor  shall  even  your 
worldly  hope  be  blasted.  While  you  live,  you  shall  bless 
with  your  prayers,  and  cultivate  with  your  fostering  hand, 
the  budding  shoots  of  the  first  and  second  generation,  and 
rejoice  that  you  do  not  live  unblessed  nor  in  vain.  Such  are 
your  earthly  consolations,  and  they  are  neither  few  nor  small. 
But  you  have,  I  doubt  not,  higher  consolations  than  these. 
That  God  whose  you  are,  and  whom  you  serve,  has  not  left 
you  comfortless,  and  will  sustain  you  in  all  your  afflictions. 
You  know  1  he  has  done  all  things  well;'  and  can  you  not 
trust  him  ?  Can  you  not  '  kiss  the  rod,'  and  say,  4  Even  so, 
Father,  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight  ?'  Our  blessed 
Saviour  suffered  for  us  even  until  his  God  forsook  him ;  but 
in  your  suffering  God  has  not  forsaken  you.  He  has  bound 
up  your  heart  with  cords  of  love,  that  it  may  not  break ;  he 
has  mingled  in  your  cup  of  sorrow  the  ingredients  of  mercy, 
that  the  poisonous  draught  may  not  destroy.  In  your  Sa- 
viour's bitterest  suffering,  he  had  only  an  angel  to  strengthen 
him,  but  you  have  the  Saviour  himself.    He  that  wept  at 


HONOUR  CONFERRED. 


343 


Lazarus's  grave  is  <  a  merciful  High-priest ;'  he  is  1  touched 
with  the  feelings  of  your  infirmities,'  and  '  will  not  leave 
you  comfortless.'  With  what  confidence  can  I  commend 
you,  dear  madam,  to  his  grace.  I  leave  you  in  his  hands. 
Your  daughter  Catharine  found  the  stroke,  at  first,  all  but  in- 
supportable ;  I  trust,  however,  she  is  comforted. 

"Mrs.  Fisk  joins  in  sympathetic  and  affectionate  remem- 
brance to  yourself  and  dear  Helen.  My  regards  and  bless- 
ing to  all  the  other  children. 

"  May  the  '  God  of  all  comfort'  comfort  your  and  their 
hearts  in  all  your  tribulation. 

"  Most  affectionately,  your  sympathizing  friend, 

"W.  Fisk." 

A  few  days  before  his  departure  for  Europe,  he  received 
the  following  testimony  of  esteem  from  his  Alma  Mater  : 

"  Brown  University,  September  4,  1835. 

M  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that,  at  the  late  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Fellows  of  Brown  University,  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  unanimously  conferred  upon 
you  by  that  authority,  and  that  the  act  was  duly  announced 
on  Commencement  Day. 

"  I  am  happy  to  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  of  ex- 
pressing rny  high  respect  for  your  personal  and  official  char- 
acter, and  of  assuring  you  that,  with  sincere  esteem,  I  sub- 
scribe myself, 

"  Dear  sir,  yours  very  truly, 

"  F.  Wayland, 
"  President  of  the  Brown  University. 
"  To  the  Rev.  Willbur  Fisk,  D.D.,      *  • 
"  President  of  the  Wesleyan  University."  J 


344 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  F1SK. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Voyage  to  Europe. — Paris. — Occupations. — Letter. — Rome. — Rev.  Pierce  Con- 
nelly.— Letter  from  Florence. — Milan. — Remarks  on  his  Tour  in  Italy. — Swit- 
zerland.— Hofvvyl. — England.  —  Conference  at  Birmingham.  —  Painful  Inci- 
dents.— Remarks. 

On  Tuesday,  the  8th  of  September.  Dr.  Fisk  and  his  lady, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Harvey  B.  Lane,  now  professor  of 
mathematics  in  the  Wesleyan  University,  embarked  on  board 
the  Roscoe,  Captain  Delano,  for  Liverpool.  He  took  a  good 
supply  of  letters  of  introduction  from  and  to  various  per- 
sonages distinguished  in  religious,  literary,  and  civil  stations. 
He  was  commissioned,  likewise,  by  sundry  religious  and  be- 
nevolent societies,  to  represent  them  abroad. 

We  insert  an  interesting  correspondence  which  occurred 
on  the  eve  of  his  embarcation. 

To  Rev.  W.  Fisk,  D.D. 

"New- York,  September  7,  1835. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sib, 

"  In  the  name  and  on  behalf  of  the  Young  Men's  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  New- York,  auxiliary  to  the  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  undersigned 
have  been  directed  by  our  board  respectfully  and  affection- 
ately to  communicate  the  expression  of  our  grateful  sense  of 
the  obligations  you  have  conferred  upon  us,  as  well  as  upon 
the  cause  of  missions  in  our  Church,  by  your  valuable  servi- 
ces on  so  many  occasions. 

"  And,  now  that  you  are  on  the  eve  of  departure  for  for- 
eign countries  in  quest  of  health,  be  pleased  to  accept  the 
assurance  of  our  deep  solicitude  for  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion of  your  voyage,  and  for  the  safe  return  of  yourself  and 
your  estimable  lady  to  your  country  and  friends.  Our  pray- 
ers shall  ascend  to  the  throne  of  our  common  Lord,  that 
your  visit  to  Europe  may  conduce  to  the  restoration  of  your 
enfeebled  constitution,  and  that  during  your  absence  you 


INTERESTING  CORRESPONDENCE. 


345 


may  be  as  useful  in  the  several  departments  of  education, 
benevolence,  and  religion,  as  you  have  been  in  our  own 
country.  And  if,  in  the  providence  of  God,  you  should  find 
opportunity  to  represent  the  cause  of  missions,  and  especi- 
ally that  of  Africa,  to  the  friends  of  Christ  among  our  trans- 
atlantic brethren,  and  to  the  Committee  of  the  Wesleyan 
Missionary  Society  in  London,  we  beg  to  be  affectionately 
remembered  to  them  all,  and  to  bespeak,  through  you,  an 
interest  in  their  prayers. 

"  On  behalf  of  the  society,  we  commend  you  to  your  God 
and  to  our  God,  that  he  may  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping, 
and  bid  you  an  affectionate  and  fraternal  adieu.  Your 
brethren  in  Christ,  D.  M.  Reese,  Preset. 

"  G.  P.  Disosway,  Cor.  Sec." 

"  To  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Young'  Men's  Mis- 
sionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  New- 
York  City. 

"New- York,  September  8. 

"  Respected  Brethren, 

"  On  the  eve  of  my  departure  for  a  foreign  land,  every 
expression  of  respect  and  friendship  from  my  fellow-citizens 
and  Christian  friends  in  America  is  most  grateful  to  my 
feelings.  Your  friendly  and  truly  Christian  parting  saluta- 
tions are  especially  so,  both  for  the  matter  and  the  manner. 
The  pleasure  is  increased  by  the  reflection  that  these  ex- 
pressions of  kindness  and  Christian  friendship  are  from  one 
of  the  most  efficient  auxiliaries  of  the  great  missionary  en- 
terprise in  which  we  are  engaged.  To  you,  brethren,  and 
those  associated  with  you,  belongs  the  honour  of  having  con- 
tributed so  efficiently  to  the  establishment  of  the  first  foreign 
mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  and,  while 
the  Gospel  lives  and  spreads  in  Africa,  thousands  on  thou- 
sands shall  be  raised  up  to  bless  the  memory  of  the  Young 
Men's  Missionary  Society  of  New- York  City. 

"  You  have,  Christian  brethren,  set  a  noble  example. 
You  are  engaged  in  a  noble  work.  Your  influence  is  seen 
and  felt  in  the  foreign  missionary  spirit  which  has  been  ex- 
cited throughout  our  Church,  for  in  this  work  you  led  the 

X  x 


346 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


way.  For  any  little  service  that  I  have  rendered  to  the 
cause,  however  pleasant  it  may  be  to  have  the  gratitude  of 
my  Christian  brethren,  I  deeply  feel  that  I  have  no  cause 
for  self-gratulation.  I  have  done  far  too  little  ;  still  I  feel 
thankful  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that  I  have  been 
permitted  to  have  any  part  or  lot  in  this  holy  enterprise  ; 
and  you  may  be  assured  that  I  shall  avail  myself  of  every 
*  opportunity  to  represent  the  cause  of  (American)  missions, 
and  especially  that  of  Africa,  to  our  transatlantic  brethren.' 
I  shall  not  fail  to  make  them  acquainted  with  your  labours 
and  success  in  this  glorious  work,  and  '  especially  in  Africa,' 
and  '  bespeak'  for  you  an  'interest  in  their  prayers.'  It  is 
not  among  the  least  of  the  gratifying  considerations  connect- 
ed with  your  address,  that  you  have  given  us  a  kind  assu- 
rance of  a  remembrance  in  your  prayers.  In  the  Divine 
protection  is  our  only  trust ;  that  protection  is  granted  in 
answer  to  prayer.  Be  pleased,  Christian  brethren,  to  pre- 
sent my  Christian  salutation  to  your  board  of  managers,  with 
an  affectionate  farewell  ;  and  accept  for  yourselves  my  strong 
assurances  of  the  undiminished  affection  with  which  I  now, 
as  ever,  hold  you  enshrined  in  my  heart,  and  in  the  prospect- 
ive perpetuity  of  which  I  bid  you  adieu. 

"  W.  Fisk. 

" D.  ML  Reese,  M.D.,  Pres't.,  )  r„ 
«7Tt»  r,     c     \ Y.  If.  Miss.  Soc.  of  Tsew-York." 

G.  P.  Disosway,  Cor.  Sec,  > 

As  the  public  are  already  in  possession  of  very  ample  in- 
formation of  Dr.  Fisk's  travels  from  his  own  able  hand,  it 
would  be  quite  superfluous  to  go  minutely  over  the  same 
ground.  All  we  aim  at,  therefore,  in  this  part  of  our  work, 
is  to  present  a  few  additional  facts,  and  to  these  we  may 
add  some  illustrative  observations. 

During  the  voyage,  Dr.  Fisk  received  very  gratifying  at- 
tentions from  the  captain  of  the  Roscoe  and  the  whole  com- 
pany; but,  from  sea-sickness,  he  was  incapable  of  outward 
enjoyment.  Once  only  he  attempted  to  preach,  but  was  un- 
able to  finish  his  sermon.  Indeed,  he  was  confined  to  his 
berth  nearly  the  entire  passage  of  eighteen  days,  and  a  part 
of  the  time  suffered  severely.    On  his  arrival  at  Liverpool, 


DETAINED  AT  DOVER. 


347 


under  the  exhilaration  of  spirits  consequent  upon  a  sudden 
restoration  to  ease  and  comfort,  he  wrote  that  humorous 
and  most  graphic  description  of  the  sea-sickness,  which,  on 
its  publication,  so  greatly  surprised  those  who  were  not  aware 
of  this  facetious  vein  in  his  constitution.  Intending  to  visit 
England  at  a  more  genial  season,  our  travellers,  after  a  few 
days  of  rest  at  the  hospitable  mansion  of  T.  Sands,  Esq.,  by 
whom  they  were  most  kindly  entertained,  proceeded  to  the 
metropolis,  where  they  were  received  most  affectionately  by 
the  venerable  and  Reverend  Richard  Reece,  president,  that 
year,  of  the  British  Conference.  They  spent  a  few  weeks 
very  pleasantly  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Reece's  daughter  and 
son-in-law. 

Early  in  November  they  left  London  for  Paris.  Arriving 
at  Dover,  Mrs.  Fisk  was  taken  seriously  ill,  which  detained 
them  a  week.  But  this  trying  season  was  not  unemployed, 
nor  employed  unprofitably.  Dr.  Fisk  had  received  a  request 
from  the  managers  of  the  Methodist  Missionary  Society  to 
do  what  he  could  for  the  advancement  of  their  cause,  by 
communicating  information  to  them  while  abroad.  He  com- 
menced the  execution  of  the  task  at  Dover,  by  writing  three 
long  letters  to  the  corresponding  secretary  of  the  society, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs.  In  the  first,  he  details  the  systematic 
operation  of  the  Wesleyans  of  England  in  the  missionary 
work.  In  the  second,  he  "  inquired  into  the  practicability 
and  expediency  of  adopting  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  the 
British  system  in  the  United  States,  and  especially  recom- 
mends the  appointment  of  a  resident  correspondent  secretary, 
to  be  employed  exclusively  in  behalf  of  the  society."  This 
measure,  however,  had  been  talked  of  for  some  time,  and 
at  the  ensuing  General  Conference,  which  met  at  Cincinnati, 
it  was  adopted,  and  Dr.  Bangs  was  appointed  to  the  of- 
fice. He  had  formerly  held  it  in  connexion  with  his  situa- 
tion as  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate.  The  third  letter 
was  on  the  means  of  providing  men  for  the  service,  and  of 
keeping  up  the  spirit,  of  missions. 

Every  traveller  of  a  distinctive  character  has  his  own  pe- 
culiar aims,  and  selects  his  own  class  of  associations  and 
subjects  of  inquiry.    Dr.  Fisk's  character  and  aims  should 


348 


LIFE    OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


be  kept  in  view  in  perusing  his  own  account  of  his  travels. 
He  did  not  go  abroad  as  a  fashionable  tourist,  but  as  a  Chris- 
tian clergyman  and  a  man  of  letters.  In  this  character  he 
sought  for  knowledge,  solid,  useful,  and  available.  Yet  it 
was  not  such  as  would  suit  the  mere  man  of  taste  and  ele- 
gant pursuits,  nor  yet  such  as  belonged  to  the  professor  of  any 
particular  science,  but  rather  that  general  information  adapt- 
ed to  his  own  peculiar  position  and  cast  of  mind.  How  in- 
dustrious and  successful  he  was,  the  reader  may  learn  from 
the  instructive  letters  addressed  during  his  tour  to  the  cor- 
responding secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society,  the  profess- 
ors and  students  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  and  to  sundry 
private  friends. 

While  in  the  gay  and  seductive  capital  of  France,  our 
traveller  was  not  found  attending  any  places  of  public  amuse- 
ment, nor  mingling  in  scenes  of  gayety  unsuited  to  his  char- 
acter. He  shunned  the  reproach  too  often  brought  on  this 
ground  against  clerical  tourists.  His  days  were  employed 
in  observing  whatever  was  worthy  of  observation  in  that 
emporium  of  the  sciences,  and  in  executing  his  commissions 
for  the  Wesleyan  University.  His  evenings  were  generally 
spent  in  some  select  circle  of  friends,  where  social  converse, 
intelligent  and  pious,  occupied  the  hours,  which  were  uni- 
formly closed  with  reading  and  expounding  the  Scriptures, 
singing,  and  prayer.  Several  delightful  acquaintances  were 
formed  here,  especially  that  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Newstead 
and  De  Jersey,  with  their  ladies,  Wesleyan  missionaries  re- 
siding in  Paris,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Baird,  the  excellent 
and  well-known  agent  of  the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society. 
On  the  Sabbath  he  preached  in  the  Wesleyan  missionary 
premises,  which  were  in  the  lower  story  of  the  house  in 
which  General  Lafayette  resided  when  in  the  capital,  and 
where  he  expired.  "I  am  happy  to  say,"  observed  a  cor- 
respondent of  the  Commercial  Advertiser,  "  that  Dr.  Fisk 
delighted,  and,  I  hope,  profited  all  who  heard  him.  He 
made  many  acquaintances  while  here,  and  employed  well 
ids  time  in  seeing  whatever  was  worthy  of  his  notice."  For 
an  account  of  the  observations  he  made,  we  must  refer  the 
reader  to  the  Travels.    He  spent  in  Paris  about  six  weeks. 


AFFECTION  FOR  HIS  BRETHREN.  LETTER.  349 

One  particular  we  ought  not  to  omit.  We  have  seen,  in 
the  course  of  this  memoir,  the  interest  with  which  he  regard- 
ed his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  He  sympathized  deeply 
with  them  in  their  restricted  means  of  support,  often  unable 
properly  to  provide  for  their  families,  and  especially  to  edu- 
cate their  children.  He  saw,  moreover,  that  this  was  pro- 
ducing a  pernicious  effect  upon  the  interests  of  religion. 
Many  toiled  on  in  great  discouragement,  while  some  were 
driven  from  the  ministry  ;  and  the  Church,  of  course,  paid 
a  heavy  penalty  for  her  mistaken  policy.  These  reflections 
kept  possession  of  his  mind,  and  wrought  deeply  upon  his 
feelings.  They  haunted  him  even  in  his  dreams,  those  ap- 
parent realizations  of  our  waking  thoughts.  One  night  he 
thought  himself  in  his  own  Conference,  pleading  the  cause 
of  his  suffering  brethren ;  and  so  deep  became  his  emotions, 
that  he  "  was,"  to  use  his  own  words,  "  choked  with  weep- 
ing." "  So  great,"  says  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  was  my  dear  husband's 
distress,  that  he  shook  the  bedstead  so  much  that  it  awoke 
me  first ;  and,  after  I  had  awaked  him,  he  sobbed  like  an  in- 
fant for  some  time." 

Under  these  feelings,  he  wrote  two  long  letters  upon  the 
subject  for  the  Christian  Advocate,  urging  the  importance 
of  making  more  systematic  effort  for  the  support  of  the  min- 
istry, and  again  commending  the  financial  arrangements  of 
our  British  brethren. 

As  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fisk  had  no  children,  they  adopted, 
while  residing  at  Wilbraham,  a  little  girl,  whom  they  ever 
regarded  as  their  own.  During  their  absence  in  Europe, 
she  remained  in  Middletown  with  Mrs.  Fisk's  mother.  Af- 
ter recovering  from  his  alarming  illness  in  Pisa,  Dr.  Fisk 
addressed  to  Martha  the  subjoined  letter  : 

"  Pisa  (Tuscany),  February  14th,  1836. 

"My  dear  Daughter, 

"  When  I  last  wrote  to  your  grandmother,  which  I  think 
was  from  Turin,  I  gave  you  some  account  of  our  route  to 
that  place.  If  you  take  your  map,  you  will  be  able  to  trace 
out  the  following,  which  has  been  our  course  since  :  From 
Turin  through  Asti,  Alessandria,  Novi,  over  the  Apennines 
30 


350 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


by  the  Valdi  Scrivia  to  Genoa  ;  from  Genoa  along  or  near 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  sometimes  close  by  the  shore,  some- 
times upon  the  mountains  above  the  clouds,  and  sometimes 
going  under  the  mountains,  through  tunnels  or  arches  that 
had  been  dug  through  to  save  the  difficulty  of  climbing 
over  them.    We  passed  the  towns  of  Spezzia,  Sarzanna, 
Carrara,  Massa,  and  Lucca,  to  Florence.    From  Florence 
we  kept  down  the  Arno  to  Pisa.    We  stopped  in  Genoa 
four  or  five  days,  and  in  Florence  over  a  week ;  saw  many 
things  which  you  would  be  pleased  to  hear  about,  and  which 
I  will  read  to  you  from  my  journal  if  our  heavenly  Father 
spare  us  to  return  home.    A  few  things,  however,  I  will 
write  now,  to  entertain  you  when  you  feel  sad  in  thinking  of 
our  absence.    One  thing  has  greatly  pained  us  through  our 
entire  route  since  we  came  into  Italy,  and  the  farther  we  go 
the  worse  it  is,  and  that  is,  the  extreme  poverty  of  a  portion 
of  the  people.    A  great  many  little,  ragged,  dirty,  miserable 
children  seem  to  spend  all  their  time  in  begging  from  trav- 
ellers.   They  would  follow  our  carriage  sometimes  a  mile, 
with  the  most  pitiful  tones  begging  that  we  would  give  some- 
thing to  a  '  poor  little  hungry  boy  or  girl,''  &c.    These  poor 
children  had  no  Jire,  and  often  no  bread.    Sometimes  they 
go  away  into  the  high  mountains  barefooted,  and  some  of 
them  with  wooden  shoes,  to  bring  great  loads  of  brush,  or 
knots  and  limbs  of  trees,  to  make  a  little  fire.    The  poor 
women,  who  take  in  washing,  do  not  wash  in  hot  water  in 
a  tub,  but  they  go  to  the  rivers  and  streams,  and  stand,  some 
of  them  on  the  shore,  and  some  of  them  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  without  shoes  or  stockings,  when  it  is  so  cold  that 
ice  is  forming  on  the  edges  of  the  stream,  and  there  they 
wash  their  clothes.    They  often  have  a  rock  or  a  stone  for 
their  washboard.    When  they  have  finished,  they  put  their 
clothes  in  a  basket,  and  their  basket  on  their  heads,  and 
carry  them  home.    The  poor  people,  especially  in  the  mount- 
ainous parts  of  the  country,  live  mostly  upon  chestnuts,  which 
they  boil  and  roast,  and  sometimes  pound  or  grind,  and  make 
into  cakes.    When  chestnuts  fail  there  is  a  famine.* 

*  It  is  known  that  chestnuts  yield  an  excellent  meal,  affording  a  very  pala- 
table bread.    Evelyn,  as  quoted  in  Downing's  Landscape  Gardening,  informs  us 


LETTER  FROM  PISA. 


351 


M  I  have  already  told  you  the  poor  people  wear  wooden 
shoes.  This  is  almost  universal  in  France.  In  Piedmont 
they  oftener  have  wooden  soles  and  cloth  tops  ;  and  in  Mo- 
dena  and  Lucca  they  had  no  quarters  to  their  shoes,  only 
soles  and  vamps,  so  that  without  care  they  would  step  out 
of  them.  They  are  so  used  to  it,  however,  that  they  do  much 
better  than  we  should  at  first  with  such  shoes.  We  fre- 
quently, in  Piedmont  and  Genoa,  saw  the  women  dressed 
in  bodices,  or  a  kind  of  stays,  which  were  laced  before,  and 
ornamented  with  embroidery  and  various  kinds  of  needle- 
work. Some  of  them  looked  as  though  they  had  come  down 
from  their  great-grandmothers  as  a  family  inheritance. 
These  stays,  of  course,  are  left  exposed  to  view,  as  the  most 
dressy  article  of  apparel,  while  over  them  is  worn  a  sort  of 
spencer,  or  short  loose  gown  open  in  front.  On  their  heads, 
the  middle  and  lower  classes  of  France,  when  they  go  out, 
almost  universally  wear  neat  white  caps  instead  of  bonnets. 
In  Piedmont  the  headdress  looked  very  much  like  a  large 
white  towel  folded  and  laid  upon  the  top  of  the  head,  with 
one  end  hanging  down  over  the  back  of  the  neck.  I  could 
not  see  that  they  were  fastened  in  any  way  to  the  head,  In 
Genoa  the  headdress  is  a  large  white  veil,  tastefully  ad- 
justed to  the  head,  and  hanging  in  drapery  round  the  shoul- 
ders. In  Tuscany  they  wear  those  great  Leghorn  flats,  such 
as  they  are  when  we  buy  them  new  in  America,  before  they 
are  made  into  bonnets  ;  for  this  is  the  country  where  those 
bonnets  are  made.  They  are  sent  to  America  from  a  sea- 
port fourteen  miles  from  here,  called  Leghorn  :  hence  they 
are  called  Leghorn  hats.  Some  of  the  people  here  also 
wear  black  beaver  hats.  The  higher  classes,  however,  in 
all  these  countries,  dress  very  much  like  Americans. 

"  My  sheet  is  almost  full,  and  I  must  omit  farther  details 
for  the  present.  We  have  been  here  in  Pisa  between  three 
and  four  weeks.  Your  dear  mother  was  first  sick  with  the 
chicken-pox.    As  soon  as  she  got  better,  I  was  taken  sick, 

that  the  bread  of  the  chestnut-meal  is  extremely  nutritive,  and  very  favourable, 
withal,  to  the  complexion.  Formerly  fritters  were  made  of  it,  which,  being 
wetted  with  rose-water,  sprinkled  with  grated  parmigans  (parmesansl),  and 
fried  in  fresh  butter,  were  quite  a  delicacy. 


352 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


and  was  confined  about  two  weeks.    I  am  now  better,  and 
we  think  of  starting  for  Rome  and  Naples  in  the  course  of 
the  week :  have  not  determined  whether  we  shall  go  by 
steamboat  from  Leghorn,  or  go  round  by  land.  *  *  * 
"From  your  affectionate  parents,        W.  &  R.  Fisk." 

There  may  be  some  difference  of  opinion  among  our  read- 
ers as  to  the  introduction  of  the  preceding  letter.  But  the 
design  of  a  book  of  travels  and  that  of  a  biography  are  in 
some  measure  different.  The  object  of  the  one  is  more  par- 
ticularly to  impart  information  ;  that  of  the  other,  to  exhibit 
character.  The  above  letter  presents  Dr.  Fisk  in  an  aspect 
in  which  we  have  had  no  previous  opportunity  of  introdu- 
cing him.  It  shows  him  talking  affectionately  and  familiarly 
to  a  child,  and  for  this  purpose,  with  good  judgment,  select- 
ing such  topics  as  would  be  likely  to  interest  his  reader. 

Extract  of  a  letter  to  Dr.  Jabez  Bunting,  of  London,  dated 
at  Pisa,  February  12,  1836. 

"  The  more  I  see  of  popery,  the  more  convinced  I  am  that 
this  is  emphatically  the  great  hinderance  of  the  Gospel — 1  the 
man  of  sin,  that  letteth  and  will  let  till  he  be  taken  out  of  the 
way.'  I  wonder  and  wonder  !  !  Next  to  the  '  mystery  of 
godliness,'  the  f  mystery  of  iniquity'  is  most  marvellous  ! 
Whence  had  Satan  such  wisdom  ?  Whence  had  iniquity 
such  venom  ?  How  is  it  possible  that  all  the  combined  cun- 
ning and  sin  of  earth  and  hell  could  have  succeeded,  not  mere- 
ly in  measurably  corrupting  the  Gospel,  but  in  filling  the 
very  channels  of  salvation  with  the  waters  of  death  ?  How 
have  these  waters  deluged  this  fair  land  !  How  have  they 
steeped  the  inhabitants  in  the  deadly  bath  !  How  are  the 
pride  of  men  and  the  policy  of  states,  yea,  and  of  Protestant 
states  too,  pledged  to  sustain  the  diabolical  system  !  Yes, 
my  dear  sir,  England,  great  and  glorious  as  are  her  moral 
and  intellectual  influences  to  the  contrary,  has,  by  her  na- 
tional policy,  strengthened  and  intrenched  the  power  of  the 
Beast.  This  you,  with  all  other  good  men,  doubtless  see 
and  deplore.  The  only  question  now  is.  What  is  to  be  done  ? 
Cannot  you,  my  dear  sir,  and  men  of  your  wisdom  and  in- 


ROME. — REV.  PIERCE  CONNELLY. 


353 


fluence,  devise  and  execute  some  plan  to  diffuse  light  into 
poor  benighted  Italy  ?  O  for  some  moral  hero,  who,  cross- 
ing the  Alps  in  the  spirit  of  a  Hannibal,  shall  carry  the  war 
into  the  enemy's  country,  and  push  the  battle  to  the  very 
gates  of  Rome." 

So  far  as  incident  is  concerned,  the  present  might  have 
been  made  the  most  interesting  portion  of  our  work.  But 
we  have  been  anticipated  here  by  an  abler  pen.  We  must, 
therefore,  leave  a  blank  for  the  reader  to  fill  up,  at  his  pleas- 
ure, from  Dr.  Fisk's  Travels.  Leaving,  therefore,  our  trav- 
ellers to  pursue  their  way,  we  rejoin  them  again  at  Rome, 
where  they  spent  the  Passion  Week,  Here  they  saw  what 
excrescences  had  been  borrowed  from  paganism  to  deform 
the  beauty  and  impair  the  efficiency  of  Christianity,  and  how 
pantomime  and  mummery  are  often  substituted  for  devo- 
tion. Passion  Week  is  the  most  favourable  time,  as  is  well 
known,  for  seeing  these  exhibitions,  and  hence  our  travel- 
lers, like  other  tourists,  selected  this  season  for  their  sojourn 
in  the  city  of  his  holiness.  A  very  ample  account  of  the 
ceremonies  will  be  found  in  the  Travels,  accompanied  by 
philosophic  reflections  upon  Romanism,  touching  its  moral, 
religious,  political,  and  economic  tendencies.  Christianity 
at  Rome  is  little  more  than  an  assemblage  of  ceremonies, 
which  seem  to  be  kept  up  for  the  purpose  of  attracting 
money-spending  travellers  from  abroad,  and  of  beguiling  and 
fleecing  the  people  at  home.  It  is  doing  nothing  there,  or 
throughout  Italy,  to  enlighten,  to  reform,  to  elevate  the  peo- 
ple, or  in  any  way  to  improve  their  condition.  It  is  an  in- 
cubus upon  the  body  politic.  How  wonderful  the  difference 
between  a  papal  and  a  Protestant  country ! 

While  in  Rome  Dr.  Fisk  was  concerned  in  an  incident 
which  his  modesty  and  dislike  of  egotism  induced  him  to 
suppress.  He  travelled  from  Leghorn  to  Rome  with  the 
Rev.  Pierce  Connelly.  This  gentleman  was  a  clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
and  had  been  settled  at  Natchez,  Mississippi.  He  had  a 
wife  and  two  children.  Having  become  doubtful  of  the 
Protestant  faith,  he  was  now  on  a  visit  at  Rome,  the  fount- 
30*  Y  y 


354 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ain,  as  he  supposed,  of  information,  to  prosecute  his  inqui- 
ries on  the  subject.  Dr.  Fisk  had  several  conversations 
with  him,  and  finally  sent  him  a  letter,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  rough  copy.  It  is  somewhat  long,  but,  we  trust, 
not  too  long  to  interest  the  reader,  especially  as,  in  our  coun- 
try, it  bears  upon  other  questions  besides  the  one  primarily 
involved. 

"  Rome,  February  29,  1836. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sie, 

"  The  subject  of  the  <  Unity  of  the  Church f  as  it  is  termed, 
has  undoubtedly  received  much  more  attention  from  you 
than  from  me  ;  for  I  confess  it  has  always  struck  me  as  one 
of  so  easy  a  solution,  if  made  a  question,  that  no  abstruse 
reasoning  or  deep  research  was  necessary  to  decide  it.  You, 
therefore,  could  not  expect,  if  I  were  called  on,  that  I  should 
be  able  to  enter  far  into  the  arguments,  pro  and  con,  by 
which  this  subject  is  elucidated  (better,  perhaps,  say  obscu- 
red) by  those  who  have  discussed  it.  You  will,  however, 
pardon  me,  I  trust,  in  making  a  few  suggestions,  or,  if  you 
please,  proposing  a  few  questions.  My  solicitude  for  the 
cause  of  truth,  to  say  nothing  of  the  interest  which  has  been 
excited  by  my  short  acquaintance  with  you  personally,  would 
justify  me,  I  think,  however  I  might  fail  of  my  desired  ob- 
ject, or  however  irrelevant  or  unsatisfactory  my  suggestions 
might  seem  to  you. 

"  That  Christ  has  a  Church  on  the  earth,  and  that  he 
views  that  Church  as  one,  we  are,  I  suppose,  all  agreed.  It 
is  also,  I  presume,  granted  that,  to  be  members  of  the  1  king- 
dom of  Heaven'  in  glory,  it  is  necessary  to  be  members  of 
the  '  kingdom  of  Heaven'  on  earth  ;  or,  in  other  words,  that 
those,  and  those  only,  who  belong  to  Christ  here,  will  be  with 
him  hereafter.  With  these  principles  of  agreement  at  the 
starting-point,  we  are  prepared  to  inquire,  Who  are  Christ's 
on  earth  ?  What  are  the  requisite  characteristics  to  consti- 
tute an  individual  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ  ?  Will  a 
visible  membership,  and  a  partaking  of  the  sacraments,  be 
sufficient?  Then  ought  Ephesians,  v.,  5,  to  be  changed  to 
read  thus :  1  For  this  you  know,  that  whoremongers,  and 


UNITY  OF  THE  VISIBLE  CHURCH. 


355 


unclean  persons,  and  covetous  men,  who  are  idolaters,  have 
an  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God;'  for 
whatever  church  you  fix  upon  as  the  true  Church,  such  char- 
acters are  found  in  it.    Besides,  the  apostle  John  speaks  of 
some  '  who  went  out  from  us,  because  they  were  not  of  us.' 
Here,  then,  were  members  of  the  visible  Church,  who,  how- 
ever, were  not  of  the  true  Church  ;  indeed,  I  will  not  insult 
the  understanding  and  moral  feelings  of  one  educated  like 
yourself  by  dwelling  long  upon  arguments  to  prove  that  vis- 
ible church-membership  while  living,  or  canonization  after 
death,  cannot  of  themselves  constitute  a  man  a  member  of  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven,  here  or  hereafter  ;  otherwise,  '  Christ 
came  to  confirm  the  works  of  the  devil ;'  to  be  *  a  minister 
of  sin;'  to  introduce,  in  fact,  the  most  demoralizing  and  ex- 
tended system  of  licentiousness  with  which  the  world  was 
ever  cursed.    If,  then,  we  must  acknowledge  that  not  all 
who  are  of  any  visible  church  are  '  of  the  kingdom  of  Heav- 
en,' what  becomes  of  the  '  unity  of  the  visible  Church  ?'  Are 
not  the  hypocrites  who  are  members  of  the  visible  Church  a 
part  of  its  unity  ?    Most  certainly  they  are  ;  and,  therefore, 
the  unity  of  any  visible  Church  now  existing  on  the  earth  is 
not  the  unity  of  Christ* s  Church.    I  confess  to  you,  my  dear 
sir,  that  this,  granting  the  premises,  appears  to  me  as  clear 
a  demonstration  as  any  proposition  in  physics.    The  prem- 
ises I  am  sure  you  will  not  deny.    And  will  it  be  said  that, 
since  a  part  of  the  visible  Church,  perhaps  a  majority  (al- 
though this  is  far  from  being  certain,  or  even  probable,  al- 
ways), is  '  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,'  that  therefore  its  visi- 
ble unity  is  not  destroyed  ?   This  would  be  making  the  unity 
of  a  compound  the  same  as  that  of  one  of  the  ingredients  ;  it 
would  be  making  a  part  identical  with  the  whole  ;  it  would 
be  making  that  unity  which  is  bounded  by  visible  lines  the 
same  as  that  unity  which  is  not  bounded  by  these,  but  by 
other  lines,  invisible  and  indefinite  !    My  dear  sir,  what  lo- 
gical mind  could  consent  to  such  a  proposition  ?    Turn  it, 
sir,  as  you  may,  you  must  come  to  the  same  conclusion  at 
the  last,  that  the  visible  Church  of  Christ  is,  strictly  speak- 
ing, one  thing,  and  the  true  Church  another  ;  they  have  not 
the  same  unity,  they  have  not  the  same  identity. 


356 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Here,  I  think,  it  would  be  perfectly  safe  to  rest  the  ar- 
gument ;  but,  willing  to  look  at  it  on  every  side  and  in 
every  supposable  position,  let  it  be  inquired  again,  What  are 
the  characteristics  of  the  true  Church  ?  Shall  we  say  that 
those,  and  those  only,  are  the  members  of  the  true  Church 
who  have  personal  holiness,  together  with  a  membership  in 
some  particular  church,  and  a  participation  of  its  sacra- 
ments ?  Assume,  for  the  sake  of  the  argument,  which  church 
it  shall  be  to  which  these  holy  persons  must  belong  in  order 
to  belong  to  the  true  Church.  Say,  for  the  sake  of  the  argu- 
ment, it  is  the  Roman  Church.  The  two  characteristics,  be- 
longing to  the  true  Church,  and  being  personally  regenerated 
and  made  holy,  constitute  them  members  of  the  true  Church, 
without  both  of  which  there  is  no  salvation,  here  or  hereafter  ; 
but  this  would  exclude  from  all  hopes  of  heaven  all  who  are 
not  members  of  the  Roman  Church.  Are  you  prepared  to 
adopt  this  ?  It  is,  I  believe,  the  doctrine  of  Romanism,  and 
ought,  for  consistency's  sake,  to  be  the  doctrine  of  all  who  say 
that  there  is  one,  and  only  one,  visible  true  Church  on  the 
earth.  And  yet  St.  Peter,  who  is  claimed  to  be  the  first  pope, 
said,  in  view  of  the  devotion  of  certain  Gentiles,  '  Of  a  truth 
I  perceive,'  &c.  (Acts  x.,  34,  35),  although  these  persons 
had  not  as  yet  become  members  of  the  visible  Church ;  be- 
sides, this  declaration  of  St.  Peter's  evidently  implies  that  in 
every  nation,  even  where  Judaism  and  Christianity  were  not 
known,  there  might  be  those  who  feared  God  and  wrought 
righteousness.  But,  passing  this,  and  many  other  scriptures 
that  might  be  adduced,  if  the  two  qualifications,  personal 
holiness  and  membership  in  the  true  Church,  be  necessary 
to  constitute  one  6  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,'  then  the  ques- 
tion occurs,  How  and  when  is  the  former  of  these  obtained  ? 
Here  is  a  regenerate  person.  Did  he  become  holy  before 
or  after  joining  the  Church  and  partaking  of  the  sacraments  ? 
If  before,  then,  should  he  die  before  he  has  the  opportunity 
of  participating  in  the  sacraments,  he  will  nevertheless  be 
saved,  because  the  regenerate  cannot  be  lost ;  and  thus  one 
who  wTas  not  a  member  of  the  visible  Church  is  neverthe- 
less proved  to  be  of  the  true  body  of  Christ,  a  branch  of  the 
true  vine.    Much  more,  then,  on  this  supposition  is  the  unity 


UNITY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


357 


of  the  true  Church  proved  not  to  be  the  same  as  the  unity 
of  this  visible  Church,  because  this  visible  Church  not  only 
has  some  in  it  that  are  not  of  the  true  Church,  but  some  who 
are  of  the  true  Church  are  not  in  it.  But  if  it  should  be  said 
that  men  do  not  become  holy  until  they  become  members  of 
the  visible  Church  and  participate  in  the  sacraments,  then 
all  must  be  evidently  and  inevitably  lost  who  do  not  belong 
to  this  supposed  true  Church,  for  men  cannot  be  saved  with- 
out holiness.  Such  a  sentiment  would  certainly  make  God 
a  hard  master,  because  it  is  physically  and  morally  impossi- 
ble for  some  men  to  receive  the  sacraments  of  this  supposed 
true  Church.  Moreover,  if  all  are  unholy  or  unregenerate 
until  they  join  the  Church  and  participate  in  the  sacraments, 
then  is  the  Church,  in  the  first  instance,  made  up  of  the  un- 
regenerate men,  with  no  certainty  of  their  becoming  regen- 
erate, unless  it  be  said  that  the  sacraments  infallibly  work 
regeneration.  If  this  is  pretended,  it  will  follow  that  all 
who  are  members  of  the  true  visible  Church  are  also  mem- 
bers of  Christ's  body,  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  of  glory ; 
but  this  has  already  been  seen  to  be  contrary  to  fact,  since 
some  of  the  worst  characters  have  been  and  are  members 
of  the  visible  Church.  The  sacraments,  then,  do  not  neces- 
sarily and  certainly  impart  spiritual  grace ;  and,  therefore, 
as  all  are  received  in  unregeneracy,  they  may  continue  so ; 
and  thus  there  is  a  possibility  that  a  majority,  and  even  all, 
of  Christ's  true  visible  Church  may  be  of  the  synagogue  of 
Satan. 

"  Let  me  ask  farther,  Do  the  sacraments  impart  grace  at 
all  ?  Are  they  even  directly  the  medium  through  which  God 
imparts  grace  ?  Is  not  their  use  strictly  this,  that  they  are 
a  help  to  faith,  which,  in  the  Word  of  God,  is  made  the  only 
direct  medium  of  communicating  grace  ?  If  this  latter  con- 
clusion be  true,  as  I  think  it  must  be,  unless  all  are  certainly 
recipients  of  grace,  without  any  other  condition,  who  parti- 
cipate in  the  sacraments,  then  may  there  be  regeneration 
before  receiving  the  sacraments:  for  the  New  Testament 
gives  numerous  instances  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  the  conse- 
quent fruits  of  peace  in  believing  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
before  the  believing  converts  were  received  into  the  Church, 


358 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK . 


Indeed,  this  was  the  general  order  under  the  ministry  of  the 
apostles.  Here,  then,  are  cases  where  some  belonged  to 
Christ  by  regeneration,  and  principles  are  here  recognised 
by  which  others  may  receive  the  same  grace,  without  being 
members  of  the  visible  Church  :  another  proof  that  the 
unity  of  Christ's  Church  is  not  identical  with  the  unity  of 
any  visible  church. 

"  Permit  me,  my  dear  sir,  to  inquire  farther,  What  is  the 
advantage  of  such  an  exclusively  true  visible  Church  of  Christ 
as  that  for  which  you  would  contend  ?  Is  it  that  such  a 
church  may  administer  the  ordinances  effectually  ?  But  if 
the  ordinances  are  only  a  help  to  faith,  then  may  they  be  ad- 
ministered by  different  churches,  and,  if  received  believing- 
ly,  may  have  all  the  efficacy  of  their  original  design.  But 
if  you  think  there  is  some  mysterious  grace  in  the  ordinance 
itself,  then  it  behooves  you  to  do  these  following  things  : 
You  must  prove  this  from  Scripture,  and  not  from  tradition, 
nor  any  assumed  authority  of  a  pretended  true  Church  of 
Christ ;  for,  remember,  we  are  on  the  preliminary  question, 
Which  is  the  true  church  ?  and  therefore  cannot  permit  any 
church  to  assume  its  own  authority,  in  order,  by  its  authority 
ex  cathedra,  to  establish  and  prove  its  own  claims.  If  you 
maintain  that  there  is  efficacy  in  the  sacraments  themselves 
when  administered  by  the  true  Church,  you  must  show  why 
all  men  who  receive  them  are  not  regenerate  and  holy  ;  that 
is,  why,  in  every  church,  and,  of  course,  in  the  true  Church, 
whichever  it  is,  from  the  days  of  Christ  until  now,  there 
have  been,  and  still  are,  many  arrant  hypocrites.  It  be- 
comes you,  also,  to  show,  if  this  grace  is  received  only  through 
ordinances,  &c,  how  God  can  be  just,  much  more,  how  he 
can  be  merciful  to  all  men,  when  by  his  providence  he  has 
rendered  it  physically  impossible  for  some  men  to  receive 
these  sacraments  from  the  hands  of  the  true  Church.  In- 
deed, sir,  I  cannot  conceive  of  what  possible  advantage  this 
exclusively  true  visible  Church  can  be,  unless  it  is  for  the 
two  purposes  of  the  power  of  the  keys  and  of  transubstantia- 
tion  ;  with  respect  to  both  of  which  purposes,  it  appears  to 
me  the  considerations  just  urged  press  upon  them  very  heav- 
ily.   If  the  text  so  often  quoted,  *  Whatsoever  ye  bind  on 


UNITY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 


359 


earth,'  &c,  be  taken  in  the  Roman  Catholic  sense  of  it, 
then  this  binding  and  loosing  must  be,  ipso  facto,  saving  or 
damning  by  receiving  into  or  rejecting  from  the  Church  ; 
in  which  case  all  the  difficulties  just  urged  will  press  upon 
the  advocate  of  such  a  sentiment.  If  the  text,  1  This  is 
my  body,'  &c,  be  explained  as  Romanists  explain  it,  then 
all  who  take  of  the  consecrated  Host  must  have  spiritual  life, 
according  to  Christ's  own  words ;  that  is,  they  must  be  re- 
generate :  and  all  who  do  not  eat  the  consecrated  Host  will 
not  have  life ;  that  is,  cannot  be  saved  :  and  in  this  case  the 
preceding  considerations  will  lie  against  the  doctrine  with 
all  their  force.  In  every  point  of  view,  then,  this  doctrine 
of  the  visible  unity  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  whether  it  be  ex- 
amined in  view  of  the  necessary  characteristics  of  such  a 
church,  or  in  view  of  the  purposes  for  which  such  a  church 
is  claimed,  we  find  it  fraught  with  inconsistency,  embarrass- 
ed with  difficulty,  and  altogether  useless.  Why,  then,  should 
we  vex  ourselves  and  each  other  by  seeking  after  such  a 
church,  or  defending  the  claims  of  this  or  that  body  of  pro- 
fessing Christians  to  such  exclusive  prerogatives  ?  Protest- 
ants do  not  claim  the  power  of  the  keys  in  the  popish  sense, 
and  none  but  high-toned  Episcopalians,  I  believe,  claim  any 
mysterious  grace  in  the  ordinances  themselves.  But  if  there 
be  any  such  power  of  the  keys,  or  any  transformation  of  a 
wafer  to  a  god  by  a  ministerial  consecration,  I  know  not 
how  any  man  can  prove  that  I,  as  a  Methodist  minister,  do 
not  possess  it  as  well  as  the  priests  of  Rome.  Hence  the  high- 
est purposes  claimed  for  this  unity  of  the  visible  Church  may, 
for  aught  that  appears,  be  just  as  well  secured  without  it. 

"  Finally,  Does  the  Bible  indicate  any  such  visible  unity  ? 
Here,  sir,  permit  me  to  tell  you  what  is  in  my  heart,  and  I 
trust  you  will  receive  it  in  the  same  spirit  with  which  I  write 
it.  Have  you  not  mistaken  your  course  ?  "Why  should  you 
and  I  go  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Rome  or  to  Mecca  to  ascertain 
the  truth  or  falsity  of  Romanism  or  Mohammedanism,  or  to 
ascertain  which  is  the  true  Church  ?  1  To  the  law  and  to  the 
testimony  ;  if  they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is 
because  there  is  no  light  in  them.'  We  have  our  Bibles  at 
home.    In  our  closets,  with  hearts  lifted  to  God,  and  with 


360 


LIFE  OF  W1LLBUR  FISK. 


our  eye  upon  the  revealed,  written,  inspired  word,  we  should 
look  for  the  true  Church.  When  we  leave  this  proper 
course  of  inquiry,  and  go  to  Rome  to  inquire  of  popes,  car- 
dinals, and  priests,  we  have  virtually  decided  the  question, 
although  we  may  not  be  aware  of  it.  We  have  constituted 
the  very  Church  which  is  the  subject  of  investigation  the 
oracle  to  settle  our  doubts  and  proclaim  her  own  preroga- 
tives. 

"  My  dear  sir,  pardon  the  freedom  with  which  I  have 
spoken.  I  have  done  it  from  a  deep  conviction  not  only 
that  your  own  interest  and  that  of  your  interesting  wife  and 
children  are  at  stake,  but  also  and  especially  from  the  con- 
viction that  the  Church  of  Christ  and  the  interests  of  religion 
might  sustain  a  loss. 

"  Whatever  you  may  think  of  my  communication,  which 
has  become  much  longer  than  I  originally  intended,  believe 
me  yours,  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  affection  and  sincere 
regards,  W.  Fisk." 

But  the  well-intended  effort  was  in  vain.  The  letter  was 
written  the  evening  before  our  travellers  left  for  Naples,  and 
after  a  week's  absence,  in  the  first  Cathedral  they  visited 
upon  their  return,  Mr.  Connelly  was  in  the  act  of  renouncing 
his  Protestantism. 

Dr.  Fisk  did  not  go  abroad  in  the  character  of  a  tourist 
of  pleasure  nor  a  mere  virtuoso  ;  yet,  with  his  lively  curi- 
osity and  desire  of  knowledge,  he  would  naturally  wish  to 
see  whatever  tended  to  enlarge  his  information,  improve  his 
taste,  and  contribute  to  usefulness.  For  these  objects  he 
employed  his  time  diligently  while  abroad,  and  especially  at 
Rome.  Evident  proof  of  this  is  found  in  his  book,  and 
much  that  is  not  written  there  is  written  upon  the  hearts  and 
memories  of  his  companions.  The  travelling  party  while  at 
Rome  consisted  of  six ;  and  of  these  the  gentlemen  were 
accustomed  to  say  that,  when  they  sallied  out  in  quest  of 
knowledge,  they  must  take  care  to  go  with  Dr.  Fisk,  as  he 
would  be  sure,  by  some  means  or  other,  to  find  out  what 
was  worth  seeing  and  remembering.  But,  while  intent  upon 
improvement,  he  was  not  less  assiduous  to  please  and  oblige. 


LETTER  FROM  FLORENCE  TO  A  LADY. 


361 


Mrs.  Fisk  delights  now  to  recall  his  image  as  he  stood  on  an 
architrave  supported  by  columns  more  than  28  feet  high, 
among  the  ruins  at  Paestum,  throwing  down  some  moss, 
which  she  had  expressed  a  desire  to  carry  home  as  a  souvenir. 

Having  remained  long  enough  in  Rome  to  see  the  princi- 
pal curiosities,  they  started,  on  the  25th  of  April,  for  the  more 
northern  part  of  Italy.  Arriving  again  at  Florence,  Dr.  Fisk 
wrote  the  following  letter  to  a  lady  in  Middletown.  It  shows 
what  were  his  feelings  while  in  this  land  of  romance  and  of 
song. 

"  Florence,  May  1,  1836. 

**  My  dear  Madam, 

u  I  believe  I  made  something  like  a  promise  to  you  that  I 
would  write  to  you  from  Italy.    At  any  rate,  there  rests  upon 
my  conscience  a  vague  impression  of  that  kind,  which  I  cannot 
well  dispose  of  without  writing  at  least  an  apology  for  a  letter. 
Perhaps  you  may  decline  receiving  a  letter  written  for  con- 
science' sake,  or  an  apology  for  a  letter.  However,  in  this  land 
of  falsehood,  where  ingenious  lying  passes  for  a  virtue,  com- 
mon lying  for  common  honesty,  and  religious  imposition  for 
pious  fraud,  I  am  thankful  that  I  have  so  much  conscience  left ; 
and  as  for  accepting  an  apology  for  a  letter,  you  could  not,  if 
you  knew  my  circumstances,  expect  much  more.    You  would 
not,  of  course,  expect  me  to  rhapsodize  or  poetize.  Even  Italy 
cannot  make  a  poet  of  me !    Besides,  I  am  so  much  in  the 
habit  of  giving  my  attention  to  the  social  and  moral  condi- 
tion and  associations  of  the  inhabitants  of  a  country,  that 
any  special  defects  in  these  cast  a  gloomy  aspect  over  the 
physical  beauties  of  the  country  itself.    Such  is  the  case  in 
Italy.    This  country  has  its  physical  beauties,  natural  and 
artificial ;  but  these,  even,  have  been  overrated.    Take,  for 
example,  the  far-famed  Italian  sky :  a  subject  alluded  to,  I 
recollect,  at  the  time  you  expressed  a  wish  to  have  a  letter 
from  Italy.    This  sky  has  obtained  its  credit  from  English 
authors,  who,  coming  from  the  murky  atmosphere  of  their 
fog-wrapped  islands,  are  astonished  and  charmed  at  the 
beauty  and  brightness  of  an  Italian  sky.    But  I  may  say,  I 
think,  with  the  greatest  safety,  that  if  I  have  seen  a  sky 
31  Zz 


362 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


in  Italy  to  equal,  I  certainly  have  not  seen  one  to  excel  an 
American  sky.  I  almost  doubt  whether  the  ethereal  canopy 
of  America  is  surpassed  by  that  of  any  other  country  on  the 
globe  ;  and  yet  Americans,  when  they  come  here,  must  at 
least  imagine  that  they  see  surprising  beauties  in  the  ceru- 
lean of  Italy,  merely  because  poets  and  novelists  have  asso- 
ciated these  skies  with  the  glowing  descriptions  of  genius, 
and  intertwined  them,  in  connexion  with  all  their  studded 
brilliants,  with  wreaths  and  garlands  of  fancy. 

"  Italy  has  her  landscapes,  her  mountain  scenery,  her  cas- 
cades, her  lakes,  her  valleys  festooned  with  vines,  her  hills 
crowned  with  olives,  and  her  orangeries  resplendent  with 
golden  fruit.  All  these,  moreover,  are  set  off  by  the  most 
skilful  and  expensive  efforts  of  art.  This  country,  too,  has 
her  works  of  art  in  the  greatest  perfection.  It  is  needless  to 
Tepeat  what  all  the  world  knows,  that  the  finest  products  of 
the  chisel  and  of  the  pencil  are  here  ;  and,  above  all,  here 
are  classic  associations,  historic  monuments,  and  remains  of 
antiquity,  which,  more  than  anything  else,  interest  me.  It  is 
thus,  and  in  connexion  with  these,  that  the  spectator  is  ena- 
bled to  bring  down  to  the  present  times  the  most  renowned 
and  polished  of  the  ancients.  All  these  are  presented  to  the 
mind  of  the  traveller,  and,  with  these  to  entertain  him,  it 
might  be  supposed,  perhaps,  that  the  pleasure  of  visiting 
Italy  would  be  very  great.  But  there  are  still  other  parts  in 
this  exhibition,  other  colours  in  this  picture.  Some  of  your 
finest  antiquities  are  surrounded  by  filth  the  most  loathsome, 
and  you  gratify  the  sight  of  the  eye  at  the  expense  of  the 
olfactories.  You  see,  too,  among  the  splendid  ruins  of  the 
Coliseum  and  of  the  Palatine  Hill,  squalid  poverty  picking 
off  vermin  from  greasy  rags  and  skins.  Wherever  you  go, 
you  are  followed  by  a  host  of  beggars,  whose  wants  you 
cannot  supply,  and  whose  importunities,  backed  as  they  are 
by  the  most  evident  tokens  of  wretchedness,  you  can  hardly 
have  a  heart  to  repel.  You  see  some  of  the  most  fertile  val- 
leys tilled  by  companies  of  wretched-looking  females,  with 
one  or  two  lazy-looking  male  overseers,  having  long  canes  to 
chastise  them  into  industry  if  they  are  found  too  dilatory. 
You  see,  in  fine,  the  whole  population  given  up  to  a  most  de- 


LETTER  TO  PROFESSOR  JOHNSTON. 


363 


grading  and,  I  may  say,  in  many  instances,  most  disgusting 
superstition,  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  Jax,  licentious  morality 
on  the  other.  All  these  things  are  here,  and,  being  here,  you 
may  judge  whether,  with  my  feelings,  I  could  be  expected 
to  deal  much  in  rhapsody,  or  feel  the  inspiration  of  poesy, 
even  under  the  influence  of  all  that  is  inspiring  in  Italy. 
Since,  then,  you  cannot  expect,  on  the  other  hand,  in  the 
short  compass  of  a  sheet,  a  detail  of  particulars,  and  espe- 
cially since  my  sheet  is  already  full,  you  will  be  kind  enough 
to  accept  this  apology  for  a  letter,  and  wait  for  particulars 
until  I  return."* 

They  visited,  while  in  Florence,  that  rare  institution  for 
Italy,  the  Lancasterian  School,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Marquis  Torrigiani,  who,  in  his  visit  to  the  United  States, 
had  seen  the  effect  of  education  upon  the  poorer  classes,  and 
on  his  return  had  attempted  to  introduce  it  into  his  own 
country.  From  this  philanthropic  nobleman  they  received 
very  polite  attentions.  They  also  formed  an  interesting  ac- 
quaintance with  Mademoiselle  Callandrini,  the  noble  origi- 
nator of  infant-schools  in  this  benighted  region.  Dr.  Fisk 
received  two  letters  from  her,  explaining  her  operations,  her 
difficulties,  and  prospects,  which  would,  no  doubt,  be  ac- 
ceptable to  our  readers,  but  we  should  not,  without  her  per- 
mission, deem  it  proper  to  make  them  public. 

From  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  the  iron  crown, f  Dr. 
Fisk  addressed  the  following  letter  to  Professor  Johnston,  of 
the  Wesleyan  University : 

"Milan,  May  21, 1836. 

"My  dear  Professor, 

"  I  am  now  on  the  eve  of  recrossing  the  mighty  barriers 
of  the  Alps,  I  hope  for  the  last  time.  I  am  tired  of  journey- 
ing, especially  among  a  people  of  a  strange  tongue,  although 

*  This  letter  was  sent  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  William  J.  Webb,  whose  melan- 
choly fate  is  related  by  Dr.  Fisk  at  page  352  of  his  Travels.  It  is  remarkable, 
that  of  the  six  who  formed  their  party  in  Rome,  only  two  are  now  living. 

t  All  have  heard  of  the  iron  crown  of  Lombardy,  but  all  do  not  know  that  it  is 
so  called  "  from  a  small  ring  of  iron,  said  to  be  made  of  a  nail  of  the  true  cross, 
placed  upon  the  interior  of  a  circlet  of  gold." — Dr.  Fisk's  Travels^  p.  393,  note. 


./7  ••  mf<>'\ 

364  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

it  must  be  confessed  that  Italy  is  now  just  clad  with  her 
charms.  The  winter  has  been  severe,  and  much  of  the  in- 
terest of  the  country  has  been  lost ;  but  now  it  is  clad  in  a 
most  luxuriant  robe  of  verdure,  such  as  in  our  country  is  not 
known.  The  weather  is  temperate,  and  the  whole  scene  is 
enchanting.  We  have  just  now — three  days  since — arrived 
from  Venice,  having  travelled  the  whole  length  almost  of 
this  luxuriant  valley  of  Normandy.  There  is,  perhaps,  no- 
thing finer  of  the  same  extent  in  the  wide  world.  However, 
I  ought  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  have  as  yet  seen  but  a  little 
part  of  the  world.  This  city,  the  capital  of  Lombardy  now, 
as  it  was  of  Napoleon's  kingdom  of  Italy  formerly,  is  a  beau- 
tiful city,  and  the  more  so  for  the  masterly  touches  of  Na- 
poleon's improving  hand,  who  has  left  the  impress  of  his 
genius,  of  his  power,  and  of  his  taste  on  every  part  of  this 
country.  His  power  is  gone  ;  and  as  his  mind,  insatiate 
with  power,  was  ever  grasping  after  more,  we  ought  not  to 
regret,  perhaps,  that  his  power  is  gone  ;  but  the  works  of 
his  hands  will  live  while  the  world  stands;  and  the  impulse 
he  has  given  to  society  here  is  felt  and  must  be  felt  more  and 
more,  notwithstanding  the  leaden  sceptre  of  Austria,  which 
presses  upon  public  sentiment  and  upon  the  buoyant  ten- 
dency of  mind  like  an  incubus.  It  is  impossible  to  stop  the 
progress  of  mind  ;  and  if  other  revolutions  do  not  burst  the 
chains  of  Austrian  despotism,  an  event  by  no  means  improb- 
able, still  the  march  of  mind  will  go  on.  As  Galileo  said, 
when,  by  compulsion,  he  was  obliged  to  sign  his  recantation 
of  the  true  astronomical  theory,  '  The  world  will  go  round 
for  all  that/  so  one  may  say  of  the  policy  of  Metternich, 
'  The  principles  of  intellectual  emancipation  will  go  round 
and  go  on  for  all  that.'  Venice  is  in  its  decline,  and  must 
ultimately  go  back  into  the  lagunes  whence  it  arose.  The 
time  may  be  distant,  but  at  some  day,  if  the  world  stands, 
the  waves  of  the  Adriatic  will  again  sweep  over  the  islets  of 
the  present  site  of  Venice  as  they  did  before  the  fierce  arms 
of  Attila  and  other  barbarians  drove  the  fugitives  of  Italy  to 
steal  from  Neptune  a  refuge  from  tyranny.  But  I  cannot 
enlarge  now.  We  shall  leave  here,  Providence  permitting, 
in  one  or  two  days ;  shall  visit  Lakes  Como  and  Maggiore ; 


POWER  OF  ASSOCIATION. 


365 


prepare  to  reach  Geneva,  by  the  Simplon,  on  the  first  of 
June ;  pass  down  the  Rhine,  and  be  in  London  by  the  15th 
or  20th,  where  we  hope  to  hear  from  home. 

"  I  have  sent  a  box  of  Vesuvius  minerals*  by  Mr.  W.  J. 
Webb,  who,  poor  man,  is,  I  fear,  almost  gone  with  the  con- 
sumption. He  was  to  have  sailed  by  the  10th  instant  from 
Leghorn.  You  can  open  the  box  if  it  arrive.  I  hope  to 
get  some  more  in  Switzerland.  Pray  how  does  your  de- 
partment prosper  ?  Will  you  write  me  in  England  ?  Our 
kind  love  to  your  lady,  and  also  to  all  the  professors  and 
their  families,  to  students,  and  to  other  friends.  I  think  of 
you  all  much,  and  hope  to  see  you  again  in  the  flesh,  and 
join  you  in  your  work.  Our  health  is  good.  Be  pleased  to 
see  Mrs.  Fisk's  mother,  and  inform  her  of  our  health,  and 
give  her  our  love.  Yours  in  haste,  as  it  is  time  for  the  mail 
to  close.  W.  Fisk." 

Dr.  Fisk  was  remarkable  for  his  attachment  to  his  native 
land.  The  feeling  had  been  instilled  into  his  mind  from 
his  early  childhood  by  both  his  parents,  so  that  the  love  of 
country  was  more  a  passion  with  him  than  a  sentiment. 
This  feeling  is  never  more  vividly  called  out  than  while  trav- 
elling in  foreign  lands,  and  is  frequently  brought  into  activ- 
ity by  comparative  trifles.  We  cannot  forbear  noticing  an 
instance  of  this  power  of  trifles  over  the  associations  while, 
our  travellers  were  at  Bavena,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Mag- 
giore,  on  the  eve  of  their  departure  from  Italy.  At  a  com- 
fortable inn,  where  they  passed  the  night,  a  wooden  floor  to 
their  room  gave  them  more  of  a  home-feeing-  than  anything 
they  had  met  with  for  a  long  time.  It  was  the  first  wooden 
floor  they  had  seen  in  five  months.  The  water  scenery,  the 
distant  mountains,  the  trout  of  the  Like,  and  the  wooden  floor, 
carried  the  thoughts  of  our  travellers  across  the  Atlantic, 
and  they  retired  to  rest  sigtmg  for  their  New-England 
home.  Their  feelings  are  expressed  in  the  words  of  a  na- 
tive poetess : 

*  This  arrived  safely,  and  the  specimens  are  now  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Uni- 
versity. 

31* 


366 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Though  warm  hearts  have  cherish'd  the  exile 
In  moments  of  sorrow  and  pain, 
There's  a  home  in  the  heart  of  New-England, 
Oh !  when  shall  I  see  it  again." — Mrs.  Osgood. 

And  here  we  shall  venture  a  few  general  observations  on 
Dr.  Fisk's  account  of  his  travels  in  this  region.  In  estima- 
ting this  portion  of  his  work,  reference  must  be  had,  as  has 
been  before  intimated,  to  his  character  and  aims.  He  was 
evidently  more  interested  in  the  history,  religion,  morals, 
literature,  and  physical  condition  of  the  countries  he  passed 
through,  than  in  the  objects  which  more  generally  attract 
tourists.  He  was  more  interested  in  men  than  in  things  ; 
but,  though  he  gave  a  subordinate  place  to  the  fine  arts, 
yet  he  did  not  despise,  nor  entirely  neglect  them.  He  vis- 
ited them  for  the  sake  of  information,  and  spoke  of  them 
rather  as  they  impressed  the  mind  of  a  person  of  a  busy, 
active,  useful  life,  than  that  of  a  professed  connoisseur.  To 
the  latter  he  made  no  pretensions ;  he  even  expressly  dis- 
claims it.  We  can,  therefore,  see  neither  justice  nor  liber- 
ality in  the  remarks  some  were  disposed  to  make  on  his 
meager  descriptions  of  the  fine  arts  in  Italy.  An  author  is 
not  to  blame  for  failing  to  accomplish  what  does  not  come 
within  his  design.  If  his  design  do  not  please  us,  or  suit 
our  taste,  we  lay  the  book  down  ;  but  why,  on  that  account, 
should  we  impeach  its  excellence  ?  We  think  not  the  less 
of  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  as  a  philosopher  on  account  of  his 
insensibility  to  the  beauties  of  the  Louvre,  nor  do  we  ad- 
mire the  philanthropy  of  Howard  the  less  because,  when 
he  visited  Greece  on  his  errand  of  benevolence,  he  did  not 
turn  aside  to  view  the  remains  of  the  Parthenon  and  the 
Acropolis,  nor  kindle  with  rapture  amid  the  remains  of  the 
Academy  or  the  Lyceum,  or  on  the  classic  banks  of  the  Ilis- 
sus.  Yet  Howard  was  a  man  of  taste  and  of  fortune,  and 
of  no  mean  attainments  in  science.  He  was  a  Fellow  of 
the  Royal  Society.  Our  tmveller  visited  whatever  was 
worthy  of  observation  in  his  torn  >  and  speaks  of  what  he  saw ; 
but  it  was  in  accordance  with  his  professed  character  and 
purposes.    This  is  all  we  ought  to  expect. 

In  portraying  the  condition  of  the  people,  our  tourist  was 
evidently  more  at  home  than  in  describing  the  productions 


REMARKS  ON  HIS  TOUR  IN  ITALY. 


367 


of  the  chisel  and  the  pencil.  To  this  he  principally  turned 
his  attention,  and  his  observations  are  valuable.  The  com- 
pendium of  the  history  of  Italy,  the  description  of  the  Ro- 
mish ceremonies  of  Passion  Week,  the  exhibition  of  the 
moral,  political,  and  religious,  as  well  as  literary  state  of 
the  country  ;  his  remarks  on  the  causes  and  cure  of  these 
evils,  evince  observation,  thought,  research,  and  great  indus- 
try, especially  considering  that  this  was  all  done  in,  as  it 
were,  a  flying  journey  of  a  few  months'  duration.  Indeed, 
if  any  one  desire  a  correct  apprehension  of  the  actual  condi- 
tion of  the  Italian  States,  we  know  not  where,  in  the  same 
compass,  he  can  be  better  and  more  agreeably  informed 
than  in  Dr.  Fisk's  Travels  ;  and  if,  in  every  particular,  mi- 
nute accuracy  be  not  found,  still  these  mistakes  are  so  in- 
considerable as  to  be  no  serious  deduction  from  the  value 
of  the  work,  while  the  circumstances  of  the  writer  furnish  an 
ample  apology. 

We  might  follow  him  with  something  of  the  same  train  of 
thought  across  those  mountains, 

"  Whose  head  in  wintry  grandeur  towers, 
And  whitens  with  eternal  sleet," 

as  he  took  his  course  by  way  of  the  Simplon  to  Geneva. 
But  here  he  is  more  in  his  element.  The  beauties  of  Nature 
always  had  charms  for  his  understanding  and  his  heart. 
Some  beautiful  touches  of  description  are  contained  in  this 
portion  of  his  travels ;  but  we  cannot  stay  to  repeat  them, 
nor  would  it  be  justice  to  the  reader. 

In  a  passage  so  rapid  as  that  under  consideration,  great 
amplitude  of  topical  information  could  not  be  expected ; 
yet  the  Travels  are  enlivened  with  many  local  descriptions, 
and  especially  by  allusions  to  the  chief  historic  associations 
connected  with  the  places  through  which  they  passed  ;  and 
thus,  while  he  did  not  despise  the  interest  created  by  the  ex- 
citement of  the  imagination  and  sensibilities,  yet  he  aimed 
chiefly  at  conveying  information,  especially  such  as  accord- 
ed with  his  own  character  and  habits  of  thinking.  Many  of 
his  observations,  though  they  be  but  hints,  are  well  worth 
our  attention,  such  as  those  on  the  influence  upon  morals, 
resources,  and  literature,  exerted  by  the  division  of  Italy  and 


36S 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Germany  into  so  many  petty  independent  sovereignties  ;  and 
those  on  the  inefficiency  of  the  confederation  existing  among 
the  Swiss  cantons,  so  like  the  union  of  these  states  before  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution. 

His  tour  through  Switzerland  is  deeply  interesting,  espe- 
cially his  sojourn  at  Geneva,  his  visit  at  Basle  to  the  patri- 
archal Dr.  Blumhart,  now  no  more,  and  his  description  of 
Count,  or,  as  he  prefers  to  be  called,  Mr.  Fellenberg's  es- 
tablishment at  Hofwyl.  Although  we  have  determined  not 
to  introduce  anything  from  the  Travels  into  this  work,  yet 
we  must  break  our  rule  in  one  particular.  Dr.  Fisk's  re- 
marks upon  the  government  of  the  Hofwyl  school  are  so 
just  an  exhibition  of  his  own  principles  and  practice,  that 
we  think  the  reader  will  be  pleased  to  see  them,  for  the  sake 
of  the  portrait  which  they  give  of  himself  as  governor  of  an 
institution  of  learning. 

"  As  Mr.  Fellenberg  is  sole  proprietor,  so  he  is  absolute 
governor  of  this  institution,  or,  more  properly,  he  is  the  fa- 
ther of  this  family,  for  the  government  is  truly  patriarchal. 
All  the  subordinate  teachers  are  solely  under  his  control, 
and  all  the  students  look  up  to  him  as  the  common  father ; 
all  needful  liberty  is  given  to  throw  them,  in  a  proper  de- 
gree, upon  their  own  responsibility,  and  yet  due  care  is  ta- 
ken to  follow  them  with  such  a  parental  solicitude  as  to  pre- 
vent them  from  being  exposed  to  too  strong  temptations,  and 
with  the  view  to  call  their  attention,  speedily  and  kindly,  to 
the  beginnings  of  error.  This  trains  their  moral  feelings, 
calls  conscience  into  action,  and  teaches  them  to  resist  temp- 
tation, not  for  wrath,  but  for  conscience'  sake.  This  is  the 
very  reverse  of  the  French  system  of  government.  They 
put  their  Aleves  under  a  lock  and  key,  and  trust  almost  en- 
tirely to  seclusion  and  physical  restraints  to  guard  their  mor- 
als and  habits.  This  prevents  the  overt  act  of  moral  delin- 
quency, but  causes,  on  the  one  hand,  a  rank  growth  of  many 
of  the  nascent  passions,  and,  on  the  other,  effectually  ex- 
cludes all  education  of  conscience  and  the  moral  feelings. 
The  truth  is,  there  are  two  wrong  ways,  and  but  one  right 
way,  of  governing  a  literary  institution.  The  two  wrong 
ways  are  the  easiest  for  the  instructer,  but  are  both  equally 


HOFVVYL.  DISCIPLINE  OF  SCHOOLS. 


369 


ruinous  to  the  pupil.  They  appear  to  have  been  adopted 
with  a  view  to  the  good  of  the  student,  but  with  a  design  to 
secure  some  good  to  him  with  the  least  possible  trouble  to 
the  teacher.  The  first  of  these  is  that  of  the  French,  already 
alluded  to,  and  is  the  same  with  that  of  most  Catholic  coun- 
tries, and  is  a  part  of  the  same  system  that  encourages  con- 
vents and  monasteries  ;  founded,  in  fact,  upon  that  anti- 
scriptural  doctrine,  that  we  are  to  be  4  kept  from  the  evil  of 
the  world'  by  being  '  taken  out  of  the  world.'  True,  if  you 
put  your  pupil  in  prison,  he  will  not  get  out  to  do  any  mis- 
chief, if  your  locks  and  walls  are  safe  ;  but  when  he  gets  out, 
whether  by  stealth  or  at  the  time  of  his  legal  enlargement, 
you  may  be  quite  sure  he  will  do  mischief  with  but  little  re- 
morse. 

"  The  other  extreme  is  to  give  the  student  up  entirely  to 
his  own  responsibility,  under  the  sanction  of  fixed  penal  laws. 
This  is  nearly  the  plan  of  the  English,  and  too  many  of  the 
American  universities  and  colleges.  This,  too,  is  an  easy 
process  ;  for  it  takes  much  less  time  to  decide  a  case  and 
affix  a  penalty  in  view  of  a  fixed  statute,  than  it  does  to  look 
after  the  exposed  youth  with  a  parental  eye  ;  to  fortify  his 
mind  with  the  strong  persuasives  and  dissuasives  of  moral 
and  religious  obligation,  and  to  call  his  attention  to  the  ele- 
ments of  sin  in  his  heart,  and  the  earliest  deviations  of  his 
practice.  Yet  this  latter  is  the  true  course.  The  man  who 
is  not  willing  to  watch  with  a  vigilance  that  never  sleeps, 
and  to  rebuke  and  exhort,  persuade  and  correct,  with  a  dili- 
gence that  never  tires,  is  not  the  man  to  have  the  care  of 
youth.  Mr.  Fellenberg  adopts  the  right  course.  To  pa- 
rental authority  and  counsels  he  adds  the  obligations  of  reli- 
gion ;  indeed,  religion,  not  in  its  controverted  dogmas,  but 
in  its  moral  precepts  and  holy  sanctions,  is  made  a  prominent 
part  of  instruction  ;  and  thus,  like  the  hydraulic  works  of 
Fair  Mount,  near  the  City  of  Philadelphia,*  the  very  ele- 
ment that  is  elevated  into  the  moral  reservoir  of  the  soul  for 
future  usefulness,  furnishes  the  power  also  by  which  the  pro- 
cess itself  is  conducted  with  regularity,  beauty,  and  efficien- 

*  "  In  these  works,  the  same  river,  the  water  of  which  is  elevated  to  be  con- 
veyed into  the  city,  furnishes  also  the  water-power  for  their  elevation." 

A  A  A 


370 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


cy."  In  one  point  only  Dr.  Fisk  thought  the  Hofwyl  system 
of  moral  instruction  deficient,  which  is,  that  it  does  not  in- 
culcate a  change  of  heart.  In  this  it  is  inferior  to  many  of 
the  American  institutions. 

We  must  again  refer  our  readers  to  the  Travels  for  an  ac- 
count of  the  passage  down  the  Rhine,  and  for  his  remarks  . 
on  the  libraries  in  Germany,  and  the  Prussian  system  of  edu- 
cation. Meantime  we  hasten  to  rejoin  them  in  London, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  28th  of  June.  It  was  Dr.  Fisk's 
original  design  to  be  in  London  in  May,  to  attend  the  anni- 
versaries, and  especially  since  he  was  deputed,  as  before 
mentioned,  to  represent  some  of  the  religious  associations  of 
his  own  country — among  others,  the  American  Bible  Society. 
But  he  found,  while  on  the  Continent,  that  his  state  of  health 
rendered  it  inexpedient.  The  frequent  calls  to  speak,  with 
the  fatigue  of  attending  the  meetings,  and  consequent  men- 
tal excitement,  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  seriously  detri- 
mental to  him. 

During  their  second  visit  to  the  British  metropolis,  they 
found  an  agreeable  home  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alder, 
of  whose  kindness,  together  with  that  of  his  lady,  our  trav- 
ellers ever  spoke  in  the  warmest  terms.  Here  they  spent 
from  two  to  three  weeks,  visiting  the  British  Museum,  West- 
minster Abbey,  the  Tower,  and,  in  short,  as  far  as  time  would 
allow,  whatever  was  worth  examining  in  this  wonderful  epit- 
ome of  the  nations.  Dr.  Fisk  also  visited  the  Universities 
of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  ;  but  we  need  not  repeat  his  ob- 
servations on  them. 

In  May  of  this  year  (1836),  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America  appointed  Dr.  Fisk 
their  delegate  to  attend  the  British  Conference,  which  was  to 
meet  at  Birmingham  on  the  27th  of  July.  On  the  19th  of  July, 
therefore,  he  left  London,  with  Mrs.  Fisk,  for  the  seat  of  the 
Conference,  intending  to  stop  at  some  intermediate  places. 
During  this  journey,  a  disagreeable  incident  convinced  him 
that  his  sojourn  in  England  was  destined  to  be  disturbed  by 
some  unkind  offices,  arising  from  a  misapprehension  of  his 
views  on  the  Slavery  Question.  A  stranger  informed  him, 
while  on  the  road,  of  a  public  meeting  held  the  night  before 


PAINFUL  INCIDENTS. 


371 


in  Birmingham,  at  which  it  was  announced  to  the  audience 
"  that  a  Methodist  bishop  was  expected  at  Birmingham  in  a 
few  days,  as  a  delegate  to  the  Wesleyan  Conference  ;  that 
he  was  sent  by  a  pro-slavery  party  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  was  himself  an  advocate  for  slavery  ;  and, 
as  my  informant  understood  it,  and  as  one  of  the  public 
journals  afterward  reported  it,  it  was  also  added  that  this 
bishop  was  a  slaveholder.  The  name  of  the  gentleman  was 
called  for  by  some  one  in  the  assembly,  that  he  might  be 
known,  and  treated  accordingly  when  he  should  arrive. 
Bishop  Fisk,  was  the  reply."  The  stranger  also  "  intimated 
that  it  would  be  very  unpleasant,  if  not  unsafe,  for  the  Amer- 
ican bishop  to  show  himself  in  Birmingham,  as  he  would 
meet  with  rough  treatment."  Dr.  Fisk  informed  him  that 
he  "  did  not  claim  to  be  a  bishop"  (he  had  been  elected  in 
his  absence  by  the  General  Conference,  but  was  not  ordain- 
ed) ;  "  yet,  as  I  was  the  delegate  from  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  to  the  Wesleyan  Conference  about  to  be  held  at 
Birmingham,  I  supposed  I  must  be  the  person  alluded  to ; 
that  I  should  not  take  any  pains  to  hide  myself  from  the 
good  people  of  Birmingham ;  and,  therefore,  they  should 
have  full  opportunity  of  doing  all  their  pleasure  in  the  case." 

This  was  not  all.  The  principal  agent  in  this  affair,  Mr. 
Sturge,  who  has  since  paid  a  visit  to  the  United  States,  took 
the  pains  to  send  a  printed  circular  to  each  member  of  the 
Conference,  giving  his  own  mistaken  views  of  Dr.  Fisk's 
character  and  position  in  regard  to  the  agitated  question ; 
and  when  he  found  that  he  had  failed  of  attaining  his  object 
with  the  Conference,  he  sent  another  circular  expressive  of 
his  dissatisfaction  and  indignation.  Leaving  the  suiyect  out 
of  view  in  our  estimate  of  this  transaction,  every  candid  mind 
will  admit  that  such  an  intermeddling  in  the  affairs  of  a  body 
with  which  he  had  no  sort  of  connexion,  was  in  the  highest 
degree  officious,  pragmatical,  and  arrogant. 

But  all  this  was  by  no  means  so  trying  to  Dr.  Fisk's  feel- 
ings as  a  memorial  which  was  sent  by  some  members  of 
several  American  Conferences  to  the  British  Conference  on 
this  painful  subject.  It  was  signed  by  eighty-five  names. 
This  document,  though,  as  is  claimed  by  the  signers,  it  was 


372 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


not  so  intended,  was  yet  precisely  adapted  to  create  a  prej- 
udice against  Dr.  Fisk,  and  prevent  his  cordial  reception 
by  his  brethren  and  the  British  public.  He  felt  this  the 
more  keenly,  because  many  of  the  signers  were  those  with 
whom  he  had  long  been  on  the  most  intimate  terms,  and  on 
some  of  them  he  had  conferred  particular  obligations.  Per- 
haps, in  the  whole  course  of  his  life,  nothing  ever  affected 
him  so  painfully  as  this  transaction.  Yet,  while  under  the 
anguish  of  lacerated  feeling,  his  prayer  was,  "  Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

But,  whatever  influence  this  document  may  have  had  with 
individuals,  the  Conference  was  too  high-minded  and  hon- 
ourable a  body  to  listen  to  or  entertain  it;  they  decided  that 
it  would  be  improper  for  them  officially  to  receive  commu- 
nications from  single  Conferences  or  portions  of  Conferen- 
ces while  in  regular  correspondence  with  the  entire  body. 
The  document,  therefore,  was  not  allowed  to  be  read.  This 
decision  was  made  spontaneously,  when  Dr.  Fisk  was  ab- 
sent, to  whom,  afterward,  the  paper  was  handed  by  the 
president. 

A  touching  proof  of  Christian  virtue  follows.  On  the  day 
of  this  painful  transaction,  the  family  whose  hospitality  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Fisk  enjoyed  had  invited  company  to  dinner.  Dr. 
Bunting  was  among  the  guests.  With  his  usual  cheerful- 
ness and  self-command,  Dr.  Fisk  appeared  in  the  drawing- 
room  and  at  the  table.  In  the  course  of  conversation,  Dr. 
Bunting  mentioned  the  offensive  document,  and  expressed 
his  disapprobation  of  the  measure,  when  "  Dr.  Fisk,"  says 
Mrs.  F.,  "  with  his  peculiar  sweetness,  replied,  1  I  know 
those  brethren,  doctor.  They  are  good  men.  They  have 
doubtless  meant  well,  though  their  zeal  for  the  slave  seems, 
with  them,  to  be  the  sundering  of  all  other  ties,  and  the  all- 
absorbing  principle  of  goodness.'  "  To  the  same  purport 
was  his  communication  concerning  it  in  the  Advocate  ;  but 
that  was  for  the  public  eye,  and  this  in  private  intercourse, 
while  the  wound  in  his  feelings  was  just  inflicted. 

Notwithstanding  these  efforts,  Dr.  Fisk  was  received  by 
the  Conference  with  a  very  gratifying  cordiality  and  respect. 
For  this  he  was  no  doubt,  in  part  at  least,  indebted  to  the 


BRITISH  WESLEYAN  CONFERENCE. 


373 


characteristic  magnanimity  of  their  president.  On  his  intro- 
duction to  the  body  in  his  official  character,  which  had  taken 
place  before  the  arrival  of  the  aforesaid  memorial,  in  the 
course  of  his  remarks  he  explained  the  attitude  of  the  Amer- 
ican connexion  in  reference  to  slavery,  and  explained  its  ad- 
ministration of  discipline  on  this  subject.  On  his  conclusion, 
the  Conference  expressed  themselves  satisfied,  admitting 
that,  so  far  as  ecclesiastical  action  was  concerned,  the  Meth- 
odist Church  in  America  had  done  more  than  the  Wesley- 
ans  in  England,  since  the  instructions  given  to  their  mission- 
aries to  the  West  Indies  were  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  not 
intermeddle  with  their  civil  relations.  To  these  views  Dr. 
Bunting  assented  ;  adding,  however,  a  wish  that  the  late  Gen- 
eral Conference  had  reiterated  its  disapprobation  of  the  sys- 
tem of  slavery,  but  admitted,  nevertheless,  that  it  did  not 
become  their  nation  "  to  interfere  and  dictate  in  this  matter, 
and  especially  to  send  agents  to  the  United  States  to  agi- 
tate the  public  mind."*  This  course  was  highly  judicious 
and  honourable.  The  consequence  will  be,  we  trust,  a  per- 
petuation of  those  friendly  relations  that  have  ever  existed 
between  the  two  bodies,  which  tend  to  the  interest  of  the 
two  countries,  as  well  as  to  the  benefit  of  our  common 
Christianity.  May  the  Wesleyan  family  be  one  throughout 
the  world  ! 

Dr.  Fisk's  visit  to  the  British  Conference  marks  an  era 
by  a  slight  though  interesting  change  in  their  manner  of  set- 
ting apart  their  ministers.  Hitherto,  after  a  strict  examina- 
tion before  the  Conference,  and  afterward  a  public  relation 
of  their  religious  exercises,  and  an  account  of  their  spiritual 
call  to  the  ministry,  they  were  simply  recognised  by  the 
president  as  ministers  in  full  standing.  At  this  Conference 
the  question  of  ordaining  by  the  imposition  of  hands  was 
discussed,  and,  being  called  on  by  Dr.  Bunting,  Dr.  Fisk 
stated  the  views  and  practice  of  the  Wesleyan  body  in  the 
United  States.  The  subject  elicited  considerable  discussion, 
but  the  form  was  finally  adopted. 

While  attending  the  Conference,  our  travellers  made  their 
home  at  West  Bromwich,  a  few  miles  from  Birmingham, 
*  Dr.  Fisk's  Travels. 

32 


374  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

*  v 

where  they  received  the  greatest  kindness  and  attention  from 
Mrs.  Hartley  and  her  amiable  family.  Part  of  the  intervals 
of  business  was  spent  in  examining  the  objects  of  interest 
around  them,  in  seeking  up  reminiscences  of  Bishop  Asbury, 
and  inspecting  the  curiosities  of  the  u  toyshop  of  Europe. " 
It  was  a  season  of  great  intellectual,  as  well  as  social  and 
spiritual  enjoyment.  But  those  who  wish  to  see  the  details 
can  receive  them  from  Dr.  Fisk's  own  hand. 

The  day  after  Conference  closed  he  took  coach  for  Lon- 
don, whence,  after  another  week  spent  in  the  Metropolis,  he 
went  to  Bristol,  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  British  Associ- 
ation for  the  Promotion  of  Science.  Here  he  had  the  op- 
portunity of  identifying  some  of  the  most  brilliant  produc- 
tions of  the  age  with  their  respective  authors  by  ocular  as- 
sociation. He  was  happy  also  to  see  his  own  country  cred- 
itably represented  by  Dr.  Hare,  of  Philadelphia,  and  his  own 
denomination  honoured  by  Thomas  Exley,  Esq.,  of  Bristol, 
brother-in-law  of  the  late  Dr.  Adam  Clarke.  But  we  need 
not  repeat  the  particulars. 

Dr.  Fisk  spent  ten  delightful  days  in  Bristol,  hospitably 
and  most  agreeably  entertained  at  the  house  of  J.  Irving, 
Esq.,  where  he  enjoyed  the  additional  pleasure  of  the  soci- 
ety of  his  friend,  Dr.  Bunting.  On  the  30th  of  August  our 
travellers  left  Bristol  for  Ireland,  visited  the  Giant's  Cause- 
way, crossed  over  to  Scotland,  and  spent  a  few  days  at  Glas- 
gow, where  a  letter  from  Professor  Torrey,  of  New- York, 
procured  them  the  acquaintance  of  Sir  William  J.  Hooker, 
the  celebrated  botanist,  since  removed  to  the  royal  gardens 
at  Kew,  and  then  took  an  excursion  through  the  Highlands. 
They  returned  to  Liverpool  on  the  19th  of  October,  whence 
they  took  passage  for  New- York  in  the  same  vessel  which 
carried  them  out. 

In  all  his  travels,  Dr.  Fisk  entertained  a  most  grateful  sense 
of  the  kindness  shown  him  at  the  different  places  where  he 
stopped.  From  the  very  few  private  memorandums  which 
he  kept,  we  insert  the  following  only  as  specimens. 

"  Left  Bristol  August  30th,  with  much  grief  at  parting 
with  our  dear  and  excellent  friends  at  the  Prospect  House, 
and  Mrs.  A.  of  London  ;  their  excellent  spirits  partake  of 


SEPARATION  OF  CHRISTIAN  FRIENDS. 


375 


the  joys  of  yon  bright  world.  How  delightful  will  be  our 
meeting  in  our  Father's  mansion  above  !  Who  can  de- 
scribe the  pleasure  of  such  friends  in  a  strange  land  ?  none 
but  those  who  have  felt  their  need :  never,  never  let  me  for- 
get strangers." 

"  October  1.  Left  Roundhay  with  many  regrets.  The 
week  spent  there  was  among  the  happiest  in  England.  The 
local  situation,  refined  society,  cultivated  taste,  Christian 
simplicity  and  sincerity,  rendered  it  almost  a  little  earthly 
paradise.  But  the  hour  of  parting  proves  to  us  all  that  this 
world  is  not  our  home :  we  seek  one  above." 

Dr.  Fisk  was  very  busily  employed  during  his  entire  so- 
journ in  England.  Besides  fulfilling  his  various  engage- 
ments, public  and  private,  gaining  information,  and  the  like, 
he  kept  up  an  extensive  correspondence,  and  wrote  many 
articles  for  different  periodicals.  And  on  taking  leave  of 
the  country,  he,  at  the  request  of  several  friends,  ministers 
and  laymen,  wrote  an  excellent  paper  on  "  Methodist  Edu- 
cation in  America."  It  was  published  in  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Magazine,  and  copied  into  the  Christian  Advo- 
cate at  New-York. 

The  following  letter  shows  his  feelings  on  receiving  intel- 
ligence of  the  melancholy  death  of  his  friend  and  fellow- 
traveller,  Mr.  William  J.  Webb.  It  was  written  to  Profess- 
or Augustus  W.  Smith,  of  the  Wesleyan  University. 

"  Manchester,  October  6,  1836. 

"  Mt  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  very  welcome  letter  reached  us  at  Manchester  on 
the  1st  instant.  We  are  under  great  obligations  to  you  for 
writing,  as  it  afforded  us  great  interest  to  hear  from  you 
again.  A  part,  however,  was  a  painful  interest.  A  report 
of  five  deaths,  of  which  we  had  not  before  heard,  in  one  let- 
ter, and  that,  too,  from  among  our  friends  and  intimate  ac- 
quaintances, was  certainly  an  unexpected  and  mournful  mes- 
sage. Poor  Mr.  Webb  !  I  feared,  I  almost  predicted  the 
result  when  he  left  us.  I  hoped,  however,  he  would  reach 
home.  What  must  he  have  suffered  !  I  almost  fear  I  was 
deficient  in  my  duty  to  him.    He  had  a  great  flow  of  spir- 


376  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

its,  but  at  times  was  depressed.  Often  after  prayer — for  we 
used  to  have  prayers  in  our  little  travelling  household — he 
would  be  seen  wiping  his  watery  eyes,  and  would  often  talk 
freely  about  his  religious  standing.  He  expressed  to  me, 
more  than  once,  his  hope  of  an  interest  above.  But  when  I 
parted  with  him  at  Florence,  my  heart  was  so  swelling, 
bursting  full,  I  could  not  speak.  He,  too,  was  almost 
speechless.  We  mutually  pressed  each  other's  hands,  sigh- 
ed a  farewell,  and  parted  :  my  own  conviction  at  the  time 
being,  whatever  he  might  have  thought,  that  I  should  see  his 
face  no  more  until  we  should  meet  at  the  last  day.  The 
very  remembrance  of  our  connected  journeyings,  and  visits 
to  the  ruins  of  Rome,  and  over  the  plains  and  mountains  of 
Italy,  is  darkened  by  the  associations  of  his  feebleness  and 
sufferings,  and  consequent  death.  But  I  must  change  the 
subject ;  it  is  insupportable  !  My  feelings  can  never  be  re- 
alized by  those  who  have  never  met  in  a  foreign  land,  and 
felt  all  the  sympathy  which  friendship  and  suffering  will,  un- 
der such  circumstances,  produce.  Peace  to  the  shade  of  the 
lovely,  the  intelligent,  the  kind  and  friendly-hearted,  and, 
therefore,  the  more  lamented  Webb.  Say  to  his  brother  I 
feel  for  him  and  with  him  in  this,  and  the,  to  him,  still  more 
painful  loss  of  his  amiable  and  excellent  wife.  I  would 
write  to  him,  but  I  cannot.  I  feel  unmanned  on  this  subject, 
and  cannot  dwell  upon  it. 

"  I  shall  embark  for  America,  God  willing,  in  the  same 
ship  I  came  out  in  (Roscoe,  Captain  Delano),  on  the  24th 
instant.  I  rejoice  that  my  time  is  so  near,  and  yet  I  feel 
miserable  whenever  I  allow  myself  to  think  of  it,  in  view  of 
the  weeks  of  misery  that  await  me  on  the  mighty  deep  ;  but 
home  is  in  the  distance,  and  God  reigns. 

"  I  find  the  climate  disagrees  with  me  more  and  more  as 
the  autumn  advances." 

We  could  not,  in  our  own  estimation,  do  justice  to  this 
part  of  our  subject,  without  making  a  few  general  remarks 
on  this  portion  of  his  history.  Considering  the  circumstan- 
ces under  which  Dr.  Fisk  appeared  before  the  British  public, 
especially  at  Birmingham,  he  always  felt  that  he  had  reason 


HIS  CHARACTER  AS  A  TOURIST.  377 

to  be  gratified  with  his  reception  in  England ;  and,  accord- 
ing to  universal  testimony,  the  impression  he  made  for  piety, 
talents,  and  learning  was  highly  favourable.  Yet  it  may  be 
doubted  whether,  while  there,  he  was  quite  equal  to  himself. 
Perhaps  this  is  only  partially  true.  His  sermon  before  the 
Conference,  on  the  subject,  "  Lord,  what  is  man  ?"  &c,  was 
not,  as  we  have  understood,  one  of  his  happiest  efforts.  It 
was  regarded  as  a  philosophic  disquisition  on  the  nature 
of  man  rather  than  such  a  discourse  as  is  expected  be- 
fore their  assembled  Conference.*  But  he  fully  retrieved 
himself  subsequently,  in  a  sermon  from  Isaiah,  xii.,  1,  "  O 
Lord,  I  will  praise  thee ;  though  thou  wast  angry  with  me, 
thine  anger  is  passed  away,  and  thou  comfortest  me."  This 
was  a  delightful  sermon,  richly  fraught  with  evangelical 
truth  and  Christian  emotion.  His  charge,  also,  delivered  in 
London  at  the  ordination  of  certain  young  missionaries  for 
the  foreign  service,  was  a  highly  efficient  performance.  The 
London  Watchman,  who  published  it  entire,  says,  "  Both 
from  its  intrinsic  excellence,  and  the  most  impressive  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  delivered,  it  is  likely  long  to  continue  in 
the  remembrance  of  those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
it."  The  copy  was  not  furnished  by  Dr.  Fisk.  It  was  ta- 
ken down  at  the  time  of  its  delivery  by  a  young  minister, 
who  did  himself  so  much  credit  by  its  near  approach  to  ac- 
curacy, that  the  author  declined  rewriting  it.  He  preached 
in  England  altogether  twenty-eight  times,  besides  delivering 
various  public  addresses. 

In  estimating  Dr.  Fisk  as  a  tourist,  regard  ought  to  be  had 
to  the  institutions  and  habits  of  his  own  country.  It  is,  per- 
haps, impossible  for  travellers  fully  to  divest  themselves  of 
the  bias  arising  from  previous  circumstances  and  opinions ; 
and  it  is  equally  impossible  for  a  reader  to  appreciate  the 
remarks  of  a  traveller,  unless  he  understands  his  character 

*  This  sermon  was  delivered  in  the  Chapel  where  the  Conference  had  been 
sitting  all  day,  by  which  the  air  had  been  rendered  impure.  Impure  air  or  want 
of  proper  ventilation  always  affected  his  feeble  lungs  very  painfully.  Before 
preaching,  he  expressed  a  doubt  whether  he  should  be  able  to  speak  at  all.  This 
prevented  his  usual  animation.  Indeed,  he  never  preached,  even  under  favour- 
able circumstances,  without  great  exhaustion  and  severe  pain.  Hence  he  fre- 
quently remarked,  that  he  wished  it  was  customary  to  have  sofas  in  our  pulpits, 
that  he  might  lie  down  immediately  on  concluding. 

32*  B  b  b 


\ 

378  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

and  associations.  His  remarks  portray  himself  as  much  as 
the  people  he  describes,  An  Englishman  is  not  quite  pleased 
with  everything  he  sees  here.  There  are  corresponding  rea- 
sons why  an  American  is  not  exactly  pleased  with  all  he 
finds  there.  England  has  all  the  features  of  an  old  monar- 
chy and  an  hereditary  aristocracy ;  the  United  States  have 
the  features  of  a  young  republic.  The  institutions  of  each 
country  are  the  representations  of  the  spirit  of  the  people, 
and  they  serve,  at  the  same  time,  to  perpetuate  that  spirit 
which  originated  them.  Let  us  fix  this  in  our  minds,  and 
no  nation  need  be  very  solicitous  about  the  remarks  of  trav- 
ellers. Such  remarks,  perhaps,  should  be  omitted,  unless 
we  are  certain  that  they  are  founded  on  a  philosophic  basis, 
or  upon  some  principle  held  in  common.  In  regard  to  the 
latter,  we  shall  not  be  likely  to  agree  in  our  conclusions 
unless  we  start  from  the  same  premises ;  and  without  the 
former,  we  shall  have  no  safe  standard  of  judgment  ;  but  to 
establish  such  a  standard,  it  would  be  necessary  to  investi- 
gate the  primal  elements  of  moral,  political,  and  economic 
science. 

As  Dr.  Fisk  appeared  in  an  official  capacity  before  the 
British  Wesleyan  Conference,  it  is  no  wonder  that  much  of 
his  attention  was  bestowed  on  the  affairs  of  British  Method- 
ism ;  hence  a  considerable  portion  of  what  relates  to  Eng- 
land is  upon  this  topic.  This  is  viewed  differently  by  differ- 
ent persons,  according  to  their  interest  or  otherwise  in  the 
subject.  To  many,  even  of  our  own  people,  a  good  deal  of 
it  was  new  ;  others  were  interested  in  it  as  a  matter  of  gen- 
eral information  touching  a  sister  denomination  ;  and  some, 
perhaps,  were  interested  in  it  from  no  very  creditable  mo- 
tives. Such,  at  least,  we  infer  from  a  certain  review  of  the 
work,  in  which  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odism are  paraded  with  an  air  of  illiberal  triumph.  The 
reviewer  makes  Mr.  Wesley's  "  poll-deed"  the  especial  ob- 
ject of  his  attack,  forgetting,  or  not  knowing,  that  under  the 
British  Constitution  this  was  deemed  the  best,  and,  perhaps, 
the  only  method  by  which  the  connexion  could  be  held  to- 
gether after  Mr.  Wesley's  decease.  It  was  necessary,  in 
order  to  obtain  a  charter,  to  insert  the  names  of  some  respon- 
sible persons  ;  and  Mr.  Wesley  nominated  one  hundred,  un- 


ATTACK  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  SPECTATOR.  379 


der  the  designation  of  the  Conference,  whose  names  were 
inserted,  with  a  provision  to  supply  vacancies,  and  who  are 
thus  constituted  the  legal  representatives  of  the  whole  body. 
But,  though  these  are  the  Conference  known  in  law,  yet,  in 
transacting  the  general  business  of  the  connexion,  all  the 
ministers  in  full  standing  meet  with  them,  and  have  the  priv- 
ilege of  speaking  and  voting ;  but  it  is  not  true,  as  this  re- 
viewer would  fain  have  his  readers  believe,  that  the  chapels 
are  all  deeded  to  the  Conference.  The  church  property  is 
held,  as  with  us,  by  certain  private  members,  in  trust  for  the 
use  of  the  people,  but  with  a  proviso  securing  to  the  Confer- 
ence the  right  of  supplying  the  pulpit. 

The  reviewer  is,  in  his  own  opinion,  severe — very — upon 
the  nature  of  the  Wesleyan  formulary  of  doctrine.  Instead 
of  drawing  up  sundry  specific  articles  in  the  form  of  a  Con- 
fession of  Faith  or  Catechism,  they  simply  take  Mr.  Wesley's 
doctrinal  sermons,  and  his  plain,  terse,  comprehensive  notes 
on  the  New  Testament,  as  their  standard.  Yet  it  is  evident 
they  do  not  require  conformity  in  every  minute  point,  but 
only  in  the  leading  doctrines  of  the  evangelic  plan,  leaving 
a  reasonable  latitude  of  construction  in  the  minor  details  ; 
but  on  the  cardinal  points,  like  ourselves,  they  allow  no 
double  construction,  no  retaining  of  the  form  of  words  with 
a  diversified  understanding  of  them.  In  all  the  essential 
points,  the  "  Watchmen  see  eye  to  eye."  There  is,  there- 
fore, no  danger,  in  exhibiting  the  plan  of  salvation,  of  their 
contradicting  one  another,  and,  by  such  contradictions,  of 
involving  their  hearers  in  confusion  of  mind,  or  distraction, 
or  despair,  or  insanity.  "  The  trumpet  gives  a  certain 
sound,"  and  each  one  is  made  to  know  distinctly  "  how  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  battle."  This  is  excellent.  We 
wish  it  was  universally  the  case  in  the  churches  of  Christen- 
dom. 

The  reviewer  misunderstands  another  point ;  in  regard,  we 
mean,  to  the  right  of  the  Conference  to  station  the  preach- 
ers. True,  they  have  the  legal  right ;  but,  in  fact,  as  the 
Travels  themselves  show,  the  appointments  are  all  read  out 
in  open  Conference,  that  is,  before  all  the  assembled  minis- 
ters, amounting  to  from  two  to  four  hundred,  as  the  case 
may  be,  where  every  man  has  the  privilege  of  objecting  to 


380  LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 

I 

his  appointment  at  pleasure,  and  when  everything  is  adjust- 
ed as  nearly  as  possible  to  general  satisfaction.  If  those 
concerned  are  satisfied  with  this  arrangement,  we  know  not 
why  our  reviewer  should  feel  any  particular  anxiety  about  it.* 

"With  the  Wesleyan  ministers  as  a  body,  Dr.  Fisk  was 
much  pleased.  In  point  of  talent,  education,  and  theologi- 
cal acquirements,  he  considered  them,  in  the  aggregate,  su- 
perior to  our  own  ;  and  he  predicted  a  still  greater  advance- 
ment from  their  recently-erected  Theological  Institution — a 
prediction  which  appears  likely  to  be  accomplished.  In  the 
pulpit  he  thought  them,  in  manner,  less  natural  and  easy 
than  ours,  and  also  less  urgent  in  exhortation  to  an  imme- 
diate religious  life.  But,  so  far  as  my  own  information  may 
be  relied  on,  their  preaching  is  quite  as  spiritual  and  evan- 
gelical as  our  own. 

One  observation  in  relation  to  the  Wesleyan  ministers,  we 
perceived,  attracted  some  little  attention  in  certain  quarters. 
The  doctor  thought  that  they  seemed  to  be  the  happiest  and 
most  robust  class  of  men  he  had  ever  met  with.  This  is  no 
doubt  owing,  besides  the  cheerfulness  of  their  piety,  in  a 
great  degree,  to  their  peculiar  manner  of  life.  They  are 
very  laborious  men  ;  but  then  their  system  requires  such  an 
equal  exercise  of  the  mental  and  bodily  faculties  as  is  pecu- 
liarly favourable  to  health,  vigour,  and  vivacity.  As  a  body, 
they  are  very  early  risers ;  so  that  they  secure  time  for  the 
various  duties  of  their  vocation,  and  often  walk  their  circuits, 
though  their  appointments  may  be  from  four  to  ten  miles 
apart.  By  thus  observing  the  laws  of  our  complex  nature, 
they  secure  important  advantages.  They  perceive  no  con- 
nexion between  a  devout  heart  and  a  puny  frame  or  a  ca- 
daverous countenance.  They  do  not  fit  themselves  for  the 
tomb  that  they  may  get  ready  to  live.f 

*  My  remarks  here  are  directed  against  an  article  put  forth  in  the  dying  gasp 
of  the  Christian  Spectator.  A  more  illiberal,  unfair,  malignant  article  we  have 
seldom  read.  Without  drawing  out  the  peculiar  merits  of  the  book,  the  review- 
er has  ransacked  it  thoroughly  to  find  defects,  and  parades  them  with  infinite 
complacency  before  the  reader.  By  such  a  process  any  work  might  be  con- 
demned. 

t  We  are  sorry  our  British  brethren  took  any  offence  at  Dr.  Fisk's  remark  on 
this  point.   Had  they  seen  the  childlike  simplicity  with  which  he  sometimes  ut- 


BRITISH  METHODISM. 


381 


Much,  also,  may  be  ascribed  to  their  freedom  from  fretting 
anxieties.  The  preacher's  family  is  well  provided  for ;  his 
house  is  furnished  with  every  convenience;  his  children  are  sent 
to  school,  and  an  appropriation  is  always  made  for  the  hire 
of  a  domestic.  The  people  thus  enjoy  the  labours  of  an  un- 
encumbered, undistracted  mind,  and  the  preacher  pursues 
his  work  with  alacrity  and  with  unimpaired  faculties.  There 
is,  perhaps,  no  happier  body  of  men  to  be  found  than  the 
British  Wesleyan  ministers. 

The  above  facts,  taken  in  connexion  with  the  absence 
of  what  we  technically  call  locations,  produce  another 
good  effect.  A  large  proportion  of  their  ministers  retain 
their  standing,  usefulness,  and  influence  to  a  good  old  age. 
The  younger  men  grow  up  around  them,  look  up  to  them 
as  fathers,  and  yield  them  reverence  and  respect.  With 
us,  owing,  in  part,  to  a  comparative  lack  of  aged  men,  the 
young  men  are  necessarily  called  to  perform  more  impor- 
tant parts  in  the  work,  and  are  thus  thrown  into  greater  prom- 
inence. They  are  obliged  to  take  too  soon  the  position 
which  of  right  belongs  to  age  and  experience.  This,  I  be- 
lieve, rather  than  any  moral  obliquity,  and  more  than  our 
republican  form  of  government,  produces  what  some  have 
esteemed  an  irreverence  for  age.  Still,  even  the  appearance 
of  this  vice  is  so  unlovely  that  it  ought  to  be  carefully 
guarded  against.  We  ought  not  only  to  avoid  all  evil,  but 
even  "  all  appearance  of  evil." 

Dr.  Fisk  was  struck  with  another  peculiarity  in  British 
Methodism.  A  difference  of  opinion,  as  is  known  to  many, 
exists  among  them  on  the  comparative  utility  of  revivals. 
One  preacher  seriously  asked  him  if  he  thought  "  revivals 
are,  on  the  whole,  advantageous  to  the  Church."  We  sup- 
pose the  question  must  have  contemplated  a  comparison  be- 
tween occasional  excitements  of  religious  interest  and  a 
steady  progression  of  the  work  of  piety,  including  the  spirit- 
ual advancement  of  the  Church,  and  constant  accessions  of 
newly  converted  persons.  Upon  this  question  there  may  be 
a  difference  of  opinion  without  impeachment  of  religious 

tered  such  little  pleasantries — for  it  was  nothing  more— they  could  not  have  felt 
aggrieved.    But  it  is  impossible  to  print  a  smile. 


382 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


character.  A  revival  implies  a  previous  deadness  ;  and 
where  there  is  deadness  in  religion,  no  one  who  favours  re- 
ligion will  deny  the  utility  of  a  coming  to  life,  or  a  revival. 
But  still  is  it  possible,  by  faithful,  spiritual,  evangelical 
preaching,  to  maintain  such  a  constancy  of  vital  warmth  and 
activity  in  a  church,  that  a  revival,  properly  so  called,  or  a 
coming  to  life  again,  may  be  precluded  ?  Now,  for  our- 
selves, we  should  like  to  hear  that  question  discussed  by  two 
persons  intellectually  and  spiritually  qualified  to  do  it  jus- 
tice. Yet,  on  the  general  question  put  to  Dr.  Fisk,  there  can 
be  but  one  opinion  among  men  properly  qualified  to  judge. 
Revivals  have,  on  the  whole,  done  immense  good,  from  the 
times  of  the  apostles  to  the  present  age  ;  and  although 
many  who  are  converted  in  revivals  fall  away,  yet  not  more, 
perhaps,  in  proportion  to  the  whole  number,  than  apostatize 
where  the  work  is  more  gradual  and  protracted.  Meantime 
thousands  are  added  to  the  churches  that  otherwise,  perhaps, 
would  not  become  religious  at  all. 

Dr.  Fisk  often  spoke  of  the  personal  piety  of  the  British 
ministers,  their  urbanity  of  manners,  sweetness  of  spirit,  and 
beauty  of  character.  He  felt  deeply  their  Christian  kind- 
ness and  attentions.  In  conversing  on  the  subject,  he  would 
often  say,  "  How  it  increases  the  value  of  Christianity  to 
believe  that  we  shall  meet  them  all  again.  Yes  !  to  part  no 
more."  He  often  said  that  "  there  were  some  in  their  body 
who  were  among  the  purest  models  of  Christianity  he  had 
ever  seen."  Of  some  of  their  aged  men,  as  the  Reverend 
Messrs.  Entwisle  and  Wood,  both  now  "  entered  into  the 
joy  of  their  Lord,"  and  others  of  their  class,  he  said,  "  They 
are  the  patriarchs  of  the  body  ;  the  spirit  of  the  venerable 
Wesley  is  with  them.  Their  sons  rise  up  and  call  them 
blessed.  They  make  me  in  love  with  old  age.  I  am  will- 
ing to  be  old  if  God  will  but  bless  me  with  their  spirit." 
Of  the  excellent  Dr.  Bunting,  who  came  from  London  to 
Manchester  to  take  leave  of  him,  and  accompanied  our 
travellers  to  the  ship,  he  spoke  in  terms  which  it  would  be 
indelicate  to  record  in  the  lifetime  of  that  gentleman. 

But  we  forbear.  Perhaps  we  have  already  wearied  the 
patience  of  the  reader. 


VOYAGE  TO  NEW-YORK.  ^  383 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Voyage  to  New- York. — The  Roscoe  Herald. — Return  Home. — Declines  the 
Episcopate. — Revival. — Colleges  and  Academies. — Letters. — Aaron  C.  Bangs. 
— Hon.  James  G.  Birney. — Dr.  Fisk's  Travels. — Abolition. — Letters. — Address 
on  the  Fourth  of  July. 

We  left  our  travellers  on  board  the  packet  ship  Roscoe, 
pursuing  their  voyage  homeward.  As  before,  Dr.  Fisk  suf- 
fered severely  from  sea-sickness.  He  was,  in  fact,  confined 
to  his  berth  almost  the  whole  time,  until  within  a  few  hours 
of  his  landing,  except  only  on  the  Lord's  day.  Was  it  a 
special  providence  that  the  Sabbaths  were  uniformly  calm 
and  fine,  so  that  he  was  able  to  preach  regularly  on  that 
day  ?  At  any  rate,  he  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity, 
preaching  every  Sabbath  to  the  passengers  in  the  large  cabin. 

The  few  entries  which  he  made  in  his  memorandum-book 
during  the  voyage  will  be  read  with  interest. 

"  Oct.  28th.  Sick  all  day — the  preceding  night  most  dis- 
tressing— rough,  rolling  sea. 

"  Oct.  29th.  All  day  rough,  rolling  sea.  Evening  :  winds 
more  calm ;  become  light,  but  contrary.  Made  but  little 
progress  through  the  night.  Towards  morning  I  became 
so  restless  and  miserable  that  I  could  not  remain  in  my 
berth.  I  got  up,  and,  with  my  dear  wife's  assistance,  dress- 
ed myself,  and  we  went  upon  deck.  The  wind  had  changed  ; 
the  moon  shone  brightly  ;  the  air  was  mild,  and  the  sea  tol- 
erably calm.  All  was  tranquillizing  to  the  spirit  and  re- 
freshing to  the  body.  The  demon  of  sea-sickness  gave  way, 
and  a  change  came  over  the  spirit  of  my  nauseous,  dreaming, 
giddy  life.  May  a  kind  Heaven  preserve  me  from  that  dread- 
ed enemy  for  the  rest  of  the  voyage. 

"  A  calm  moonlight  night  at  sea  is  lovely  :  we  enjoyed  it 
much.  Our  canvass  was  all  spread.  We  had  just  wind 
enough  to  fill  the  sails.  Our  noble,  gallant  ship  seemed 
like  a  thing  of  life,  proudly  careering  on  her  native  element, 
as  if  exulting  that  she  was  the  only  object  to  be  discerned 
on  this  boundless  expanse.  Yet, 


384 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  1  How  dark  would  be  sea's  vale,  and  damp, 

Though  moon  beams  bright  and  sweetly  o'er  us  ; 
But  Immortality's  pure  lamp 
Gladdens  and  gilds  the  scene  before  us.' 

Truly,  God  is  love.  At  sea,  on  land,  in  sickness  or  health, 
God  is  love. 

"  Sunday,  Oct.  30th.  Winds  light  ;  ship's  company  all 
better.  I  read  and  expounded  the  twelfth  of  Romans  ;  had 
much  liberty  in  enlarging  upon  the  mercy  of  God,  and  the 
obligations  we  were  laid  under  thereby  to  serve  him.  Gen- 
eral attention  and  some  tenderness.  God  grant  that  this 
bread  cast  upon  the  waters  may  be  gathered  after  many  days. 
What  a  place  is  the  ocean  to  impress  upon  the  mind  of  man 
his  own  littleness  and  his  own  dependance  !  The  word 
Ocean  is  a  sermon  of  itself. 

u  The  passengers  met  last  Saturday,  Oct.  29th,  and  re- 
solved upon  a  semi-wTeekly  herald,  to  be  called  the  *  Roscoe 
Herald,'  to  be  issued  every  Tuesday  and  Friday.  They  also 
organized  a  government,  appointed  a  judge,  their  officers, 
constable,  &c.  This  is  much  better  than  some  of  their 
amusements.  It  is  curious  to  see  with  what  trifles  people 
can  be  amused  when  at  sea — anything  to  kill  time.  Eter- 
nity ^  as  on  land,  is  too  often  forgotten  ;  and  yet  nowhere,  one 
would  think,  is  eternity  brought  nearer. 

"  Sunday,  13th.  Calm  again — service — too  weary  and  sick 
to  write. 

"  Nov.  27th.  After  several  days  of  rough  weather,  in 
which  I  was  confined  to  my  bed,  we  have  at  length  a  lovely 
day,  and  that  day  is  the  Sabbath.  We  had  service  :  I  en- 
deavoured to  expound  from  Col.,  3d.  Serious  attention — 
hope  some  good  may  be  done — have  cast  again  bread  upon 
the  water — Jesus  can  bless  it — too  sick  to  write." 

Yet  even  the  sea-sickness  did  not  overcome  his  interest  in 
the  happiness  of  those  around  him.  He  was  habitually  not 
less  an  agreeable  companion  than  a  sympathizing  friend  and 
a  wise  counsellor.  No  one  knew  better  how  to  combine 
cheerfulness  with  gravity,  and  to  sustain  the  dignity  of  the 
ministerial  character  amid  the  relaxations  of  society.  Of 
this  he  had  opportunity  of  giving  proof  during  the  ordeal  of 
a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic.    His  piety  threw  around  him 


THE  ROSCOE  HERALD. 


385 


no  mantle  of  repulsiveness.  He  contributed  his  share  to 
whatever  innocent  expedients  were  adopted  to  relieve  the 
tedium  of  the  passage.  Of  this  the  following  is  an  instance : 
The  first  number  of  the  Roscoe  Herald  was  deficient  in  the 
poetical  department,  and  at  Mrs.  Fisk's  request,  the  doctor 
wrote  the  following  lines  for  the  "  Poet's  Corner. "  The 
reader  ought  to  know  that  they  were  written  in  his  berth, 
as  he  was  too  ill  to  sit  up,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  guide 
his  pen. 

"THE  ROSCOE  HERALD. 

"  The  1  Roscoe  Herald' — who'll  refuse  it  1 

Though  born  at  sea,  and  rock'd  on  ocean — 

Must  have  a  place,  if  poets  choose  it, 
Where  they  may  breathe  their  soul's  devotion ; 

Where  they  may  chant  the  waves  among, 

In  all  the  rhapsody  of  song. 

But  who  can  catch  the  inspiration 

In  circumstances  such  as  these  1 
Or  who  can  hold  a  poet's  station, 

When  rock'd  and  toss'd  on  rolling  seas, 
Till  reeling  sense  and  giddy  brain 
Bind  fancy  in  a  leaden  chain  ? 

Not  that  inspiring  scenes  are  wanting 

To  touch  the  heart  or  tune  the  lyre ; 
For  here  are  scenes  quite  as  enchanting, 

As  pregnant  with  poetic  fire, 
As  ever  caught  the  poet's  eye 
By  land  or  sea,  in  earth  or  sky. 

Here  undulating  waves  are  rolling, 

With  crests  of  spray  and  caps  of  foam ; 
Here  day  and  night,  the  hoarse  winds  howling, 

Through  shrouds  and  spars  make  plaintive  moan  ; 
While  stormy  peterels  skim  the  air, 
And  dolphins  play  and  meteors  glare. 

And  here,  in  vessel's  wake  at  even, 

In  one  broad  belt  of  mystic  light, 
Reflecting  back  a  mimic  heaven, 

Which  dazzles  as  it  charms  the  sight, 
Old  ocean  shows  a  milky  way 
Of  stellar  light  on  dancing  spray. 

The  bright  cerulean  above, 

In  canopy  of  heavenly  blue, 
Bends  down  and  round  in  melting  love, 

To  kiss  this  sea  of  kindred  hue, 
And  gazes  through  her  eyes  of  light 
On  him  she  loves,  the  livelong  night. 

33  C  c  c 


386 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


And  when  the  clouds  obscure  the  sky, 

And  interrupt  her  raptured  gaze, 
She  weeps  with  many  a  tearful  eye 

Through  tedious  nights  and  gloomy  days, 
Sprinkling  with  dewdrops  from  above, 
The  unseen  object  of  her  love. 

Sure  scenes  like  these  might  charm  the  muse 
To  swell  her  notes  in  sweetest  measure ; 

Dost  ask,  then,  why  should  she  refuse 
To  contribute  her  share  of  pleasure  1 

Her  harp's  untuned  in  every  string, 

She's  sea-sick,  and  she  cannot  sing. 
"  Ship  Roscoe,  November,  1836." 

The  following  document  serves  to  show  the  estimation  in 
which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow-voyagers  : 

"  Packet  ship  Roscoe,  near  Sandy  Hook,  ) 
Monday,  November  21,  1836.  $ 

"  Resolved,  that  Messrs.  Crane  and  Smith  be  requested  to 
convey  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fisk  the  grateful  thanks  of  the  cap- 
tain and  passengers  of  this  vessel,  for  the  obliging  manner 
in  which  he  (although  suffering  from  sea-sickness  and  indis- 
position) complied  with  their  wishes,  by  the  performance  of 
Divine  service  on  board  the  Roscoe  during  her  passage  from 
Liverpool  to  New-York ;  and  also  for  the  advice  and  in- 
struction afforded  to  us  in  the  lectures  delivered  by  him, 
wherein  he  most  impressively  and  consistently  inculcated  the 
invaluable  doctrines  of  true  piety,  and  ably  advocated  the 
spirit  of  Christian  charity  towards  all  mankind." 

Our  travellers  landed  in  New- York  on  the  23d  day  of 
November  (1836).  They  remained  a  few  days  in  the  city. 
On  the  Sabbath  Dr.  Fisk  preached,  greatly  to  the  delight  and 
edification  of  his  audience,  in  the  large  church  in  Forsyth- 
street,  on  the  appropriate  text,  "  Thy  statutes  have  been  my 
songs  in  the  house  of  my  pilgrimage." — Ps.  cxix.,  54.  And 
on  the  succeeding  evening,  at  the  request  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society,  he  gave 
the  result  of  his  observations  in  the  countries  he  had  visited. 
The  audience  was  very  large  and  deeply  interested.  A  de- 
tailed account  of  both  these  discourses  was  published  in  the 


RETURN  TO  MIDDLETOWN. 


387 


Christian  Advocate  and  Journal.  After  the  discourse,  the 
audience,  by  an  unanimous  vote,  requested  the  publication 
of  his  Travels. 

Dr.  Fisk's  return  to  Middletown  was  hailed  with  un- 
affected joy.  His  voyage  seemed  to  have  accomplished 
all  that  was  anticipated.  His  health  appeared,  to  many, 
much  improved.  He  had  enriched  the  apparatus  and  li- 
brary of  the  Wesleyan  University  with  important  additions, 
to  the  value  of  about  seven  thousand  dollars,  besides  a  hand- 
some donation  from  the  British  Conference  of  books,  among 
which  were  a  complete  set  of  the  Arminian  and  Methodist 
Magazine,  and  the  entire  works  of  Richard  Baxter,  in  23 
vols.  8vo,  and  Mr.  Wesley's  Christian  Library.  He  also 
received  benefactions  from  individuals  in  England,  consist- 
ing of  money,  books,  and  contributions  to  the  cabinet  of 
Natural  History.*  But,  besides  these,  he  returned  with  a 
mind  enriched  by  the  results  of  foreign  travel ;  a  more  ex- 
tended intercourse  with  mankind,  and  with,  in  some  re- 
spects, more  enlarged  views,  and  a  valuable  stock  of  infor- 
mation. His  increased  attractions  had  still  more  strongly 
drawn  public  attention  to  the  Wesleyan  University,  the  ef- 
fect of  which  was  a  large  accession  to  the  number  of  students. 
The  patrons  and  supporters  of  the  institution  looked  forward 
to  several  years  of  efficient  service  from  its  beloved  and  re- 
vered president,  upon  whose  account,  and  that  of  the  insti- 
tution, they  had  expended  a  liberal  sum  of  money,  and  in- 
curred heavy  responsibility. 

Their  minds,  however,  were  not  entirely  free  from  appre- 
hension on  this  point.  We  have  had  occasion  casually  to 
observe  that,  at  the  General  Conference  held  at  Cincinnati 
during  his  absence,  Dr.  Fisk  was  elected  to  the  episcopal 
office.  His  election  was  equally  satisfactory  to  the  North 
and  to  the  South,  a  point  of  great  importance  at  a  time  when 
a  schism  on  the  Slavery  Question  was  feared  by  many,  and 
when,  consequently,  it  was  not  easy  to  find  candidates  for 

*  The  museum  of  the  Wesleyan  University  is  also  indebted,  through  Dr. 
Fisk's  influence,  to  Dr.  Prescott,  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  for  a  handsome  collec- 
tion of  specimens  in  conchology  and  mineralogy,  called  after  the  donor,  the  Pres- 
cott Cabinet ;  and  to  Mr.  Blackstock  the  library  is  indebted  for  the  collection  of 
books  which  belonged  to  his  brother-in-law,  the  late  Rev.  John  Summerfield. 


388 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


the  office  acceptable  to  both  parties.  It  was  Dr.  Fisk's  ear- 
nest desire  to  make  his  apparently  conflicting  obligations 
harmonize,  and  he  spared  no  pains  to  obtain  suitable  ground 
on  which  to  make  his  decision.  After  earnest  prayer,  a 
careful  review  of  the  opposite  claims  upon  him,  and  a  cor- 
respondence with  competent  advisers,  he  announced  his  in- 
tention in  the  following  letter  to  Dr.  Bangs.  It  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  January  20th, 
1837. 

"  To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs ,  on  the  subject  of  his  election  to  the 
Episcopal  Office. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  When  I  parted  with  you  in  New- York,  you  expressed 
a  wish  that,  as  soon  as  I  could  make  up  my  mind  on  the 
subject  of  my  election  to  the  episcopal  office,  I  would  make 
that  decision  public.  This  you  thought  desirable,  to  meet  the 
inquiries  and  satisfy  the  minds  of  many  who  were  anxious  to 
know  the  result.  I  have  found  some  difficulty  in  satisfying 
myself  with  respect  to  this  question.  Since  I  entered  upon 
the  ministry,  I  have  ever  felt  it  both  a  duty  and  a  privilege 
to  fill  that  post  and  perform  that  labour,  as  I  was  able,  which 
the  constituted  authorities  of  the  Church  were  pleased  to  as- 
sign me  ;  and,  although  I  consider  this  appointment  as  stand- 
ing on  different  ground  from  the  ordinary  assignments  of 
ministerial  labour,  still,  even  here,  I  think,  in  ordinary  cases, 
the  voice  of  the  Church  decisively  expressed,  in  view  of  all 
the  circumstances,  should  not  be  disregarded.  There  are  cir- 
cumstances, however,  in  the  present  case,  which  would  jus- 
tify me,  I  think,  in  declining,  at  least  for  the  present,  a  con- 
secration to  the  office  of  a  bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  I  do  not  say  that  there  may  not  be  such  a  con- 
currence of  circumstances,  between  this  and  the  next  Gen- 
eral Conference,  as  would  convince  me  that  it  was  my  duty 
to  enter  upon  that  office  ;  but  at  present  my  way  is  not  clear 
in  that  direction.  For  this  decision,  the  following  are  some 
of  my  reasons : 

"  1.  It  seems  that  the  General  Conference  were  of  the 
opinion,  at  the  first,  that  only  two  additional  bishops  were 


DECLINES  CONSECRATION. 


389 


needed  ;  and  only  agreed  upon  a  third  after  several  of  the 
older  bishops  had  been  excused  from  the  full  labour  of  effi- 
cient men.  At  present,  however,  most  of  these  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Board  have,  by  arrangement,  undertaken  and 
entered  upon  their  full  proportion  of  episcopal  labour.  So 
long  as  they  are  able,  therefore,  to  perform  that  labour,  it 
would  be  going  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, unequivocally  and  officially  expressed,  to  increase 
the  board  of  bishops  beyond  the  number  already  consecrated. 
If  I  have  a  right  understanding  of  the  subject,  then  the  case 
is  this :  a  third  bishop  was  elected  to  meet  a  possible,  or, 
perhaps,  a  probable  exigency ;  which  exigency  has  not  oc- 
curred, and  may  not  occur  for  the  next  four  years.  To  pro- 
vide for  that  exigency,  the  General  Conference  were  pleased 
to  elect  three.  Being  absent,  of  course  I  could  not  be  con- 
secrated when  the  others  were.  On  my  return,  I  find  the 
exigency,  without  the  expectation  of  which  the  election  of  a 
third  new  bishop  never  would  have  been  ordered,  does  not 
exist.  Should  I  not,  then,  be  going  contrary  to  the  express- 
ed wishes  of  the  General  Conference  ?  Should  I  not  be 
guilty  of  a  great  breach  of  Christian  modesty,  and  show  a 
great  want  of  a  nice  sense  of  propriety,  if,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, I  should  come  forward  and  claim  my  consecra- 
tion, and  throw  myself  upon  a  board  that  is  full,  and  all  the 
joint  labours  of  which  are  provided  for,  and,  by  God's  bless- 
ing upon  the  health  of  the  bishops  (which  may  he  richly  be- 
stow), will  be  performed  for  the  next  four  years  ?  So,  at 
least,  it  seems  to  me. 

"  2.  Another  reason  (if  an  additional  one  were  necessary) 
is,  that,  encouraged  by  the  sanction  of  the  authorities  of  the 
Church,  I  have  come  under  such  obligations,  and  incurred 
such  responsibilities  in  my  present  station,  as  I  cannot  sud- 
denly dispense  with,  without  serious  disappointment,  and  an 
apparent  breach  of  confidence. 

"  3.  My  constitution  is  such,  that,  to  all  human  appearance, 
I  might  calculate,  with  the  fullest  certainty,  upon  a  speedy 
termination  of  my  labours,  if  obliged  to  be  exposed  to  all 
the  varieties  of  climate,  at  any  and  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
This,  if  I  believed  the  interests  of  the  Church  required  it, 
33* 


390 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


should  not  deter  me  ;  for  why  should  I  not  go  into  the  hot- 
test of  the  battle,  and  fall  as  well  as  others  ?  So  long,  how- 
ever, as  I  cannot  see  that  the  interests  of  the  Church  do  de- 
mand this  at  my  hand,  or  at  the  hand  of  any  one,  I  cannot 
see  the  propriety  of  volunteering  a  sacrifice  that  God  hath 
not  required. 

"  These,  then,  are  the  deliberate  views  I  entertain  on  this 
subject :  views  which  are  the  result  of  my  best  judgment, 
after  all  the  light  and  counsel  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  of 
men  and  at  the  throne  of  grace.  You  are  at  liberty  to  make 
such  use  of  these  as  you  may  judge  proper. 

"  With  my  most  unfeigned  acknowledgments  to  those  of 
my  brethren  who  have  honoured  me  with  their  confidence, 
and  with  an  earnest  prayer  for  the  prosperity  and  unity  of 
the  Church,  I  remain,  as  ever,  your  affectionate  brother  and 
fellow-labourer  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 

"  W.  Fisk. 

"  Middletown,  January  9th,  1837." 

These  reasons  did  not  prove  entirely  satisfactory  to  all  Br. 
Fisk's  friends,  and  some  of  them  expressed  their  views  to 
him  by  letter  with  sufficient  plainness.*  One,  moreover,  as- 

*  The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Dr.  Fisk  to  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
F.  Drake,  of  Mississippi,  in  answer  to  one  from  that  gentleman  relating  to  this 
subject.    It  is  dated  January  8,  1838. 

"  I  think  you  state  the  doctrine  of  submission  to  the  General  Conference  rath- 
er too  strongly.  You  compare  it  to  a  man's  refusing,  after  having  joined  the 
travelling  connexion,  to  take  the  appointment  assigned  him  by  a  bishop  ;  only 
mine  is  a  worse  case,  because  I  hesitate  '  to  obey  the  solemnly  declared  majori- 
ty of  the  whole  Church.'  Now,  my  dear  brother,  this  is  not  quite  fair.  When 
we  join  Conference,  we  do  it  in  view  of  doing  the  work  assigned  by  the  bishop 
and  by  our  '  chief  minister.'  This  is  the  business  of  the  itinerant — this  he  promi- 
ses. But  who  ever  promised  to  obey  the  call  to  the  bishopric  1  Who  ever  joined 
the  connexion  in  view  of  thisl  Certainly  not  I.  Yet  I  concede  a  man  should 
not,  for  slight  reasons,  disobey  the  voice  of  the  Church.  But  it  strikes  me,  diso- 
bedience is  one  thing,  and  declining  an  appointment,  under  some  circumstances, 
another.  But  the  severest  part  of  your  charge  is,  that  I  am  '  depriving  the 
Church  of  the  labours  of  some  efficient  superintendent,  who  might  have  been 
elected  in  my  place.'  Have  I  placed  the  Church  in  this  situation  ?  She  appoint- 
ed me  to  an  office  in  my  absence,  not  knowing  my  circumstances ;  and,  had  I  been 
present  to  state  these,  the  General  Conference  might  have  excused  me ;  but  they 
ventured  on  the  appointment.  Now,  if  your  doctrine  be  correct,  that  we  must 
take  the  appointment  assigned  us  unless  excused  by  the  General  Conference, 


RESUMES  HIS  DUTIES. 


391 


sured  him  that,  if  he  would  accept  the  office  and  would  re- 
move into  Alabama,  a  purse  of  ten  thousand  dollars  would 
be  raised  to  procure  him  a  comfortable  residence.  But  such 
arguments  did  not  weigh  a  feather  with  him.  He  had  made 
up  his  mind  on  conscientious  ground,  and  he  could  not  be 
moved  by  inferior  impulses.  It  may  be  observed,  that 
though,  in  his  letter  to  Dr.  Bangs,  he  urges  the  first  consid- 
eration at  greatest  length,  yet  the  succeeding  ones  had  no 
small  weight  with  him. 

Dr.  Fisk  now  devoted  himself  with  all  his  former  assidu- 
ity to  the  duties  of  his  station.  The  affairs  of  the  institution, 
under  the  temporary  presidency  of  Professor  Smith,  Avhose 
administration  was  highly  satisfactory,  had  gone  on  prosper- 
ously. The  number  of  students  had  increased,  and  addi- 
tional buildings  for  their  accommodation  were  wanted.  All 
this  augmented  the  labours  of  the  president.  It  was  interest- 
ing to  observe  with  what  facility  he  returned  to  his  former 
routine  of  avocations  after  a  period  of  long  excitement. 
There  was  no  appearance  in  him  of  listlessness,  or  distaste 

then  who  has  most  cause  to  complain,  I,  who  was  unexpectedly  appointed  in 
my  absence,  and  when  I  had  other  engagements  and  pledges  on  my  hands,  with- 
out giving  me  an  opportunity  of  being  heard,  or  the  Church,  which  has  not  had 
my  services  as  bishop  in  consequence  of  my  declining  or  postponing  consecra- 
tion 1  And  ought  I,  under  such  circumstances,  to  be  chargeable  with  standing 
in  the  way  of  another  man  1  I  may  be  wrong,  but  I  assure  you  I  do  not  feel 
the  force  of  that  charge  farther  than  that  it  pains  me  that  any  of  my  friends 
should  bring  it  against  me. 

"  Waiving  this,  however,  I  acknowledge  that  the  opinion  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, solemnly  expressed,  has  great  weight  with  me,  and  would  have  still 
more  if  persisted  in  after  learning  all  my  circumstances,  and  yet  more  if,  in  ad- 
dition, the  connexion  were  actually  suffering  from  a  reliance  upon  me.  With 
respect  to  my  being  chosen  in  view  of  a  probable  failure  in  the  labours  of  the 
older  bishops,  that  I  do  not  say ;  I  did  not  so  understand  it.  I  understood  that 
three  were  agreed  on,  however,  because  the  bishops  asked  indulgence  ;  and  I  far- 
ther understand  that  these  very  bishops,  with  the  exception  of  Bishop  Hedding, 
did,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Episcopal  Board,  claim,  and  have  allotted  to  them,  their 
full  share  of  episcopal  labour  for  the  coming  four  years,  by  which  arrangement 
the  whole  work  was  provided  for  and  officially  disposed  of,  and  that,  too,  by  giv- 
ing each  bishop  only  from  five  to  six  Conferences  on  an  average  per  annum. 
There  is  no  vacancy  for  me.  I  could  attend  no  Conference  only  as  a  spectator 
and  a  visiter.  Were  I  consecrated  this  moment,  I  could  have  no  episcopal  juris- 
diction or  official  duty  until  the  next  General  Conference.  How,  then,  can  it  be 
said,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  am  depriving  the  Church  of  the  efficient  services  of 
another  1" 


392 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


for  drudgery ;  no  reluctance  to  labour  after  the  relaxation ; 
no  relapse  after  the  excitement  had  passed  away.  His  mind 
was  in  too  just  an  equipoise  for  that;  and  he  resumed  his 
work  as  though  he  had  enjoyed  but  a  few  days  respite. 
There  was  scarcely  any  perceptible  change  in  him,  save 
what  has  been  before  mentioned.  In  the  essential  features 
of  his  character  he  was  the  same  :  the  same  in  piety,  humil- 
ity, and  simplicity.  Those  who  were  most  intimate  with 
him  discovered  no  trace  of  elation,  nor  any  betrayal  of  a 
conscious  superiority.  His  affability  was  such  as  seemed 
always  to  place  him  upon  an  equality  with  those  with  whom 
he  conversed.  In  this  he  frequently  reminded  one  of  what 
is  said  of  the  devout  and  amiable  Fenelon,  to  whom,  in  sev- 
eral features,  our  subject  bore  no  faint  resemblance.  "  I 
have  seen  him,"  says  Ramsay,  "  in  a  single  day,  mount  and 
descend  all  ranks ;  converse  with  the  noble  in  their  own 
language,  preserving  throughout  his  episcopal  dignity,  and 
then  talk  with  the  lowly,  as  a  good  father  with  his  children, 
and  this  without  effort  or  affectation."*  Such  was  Dr.  Fisk. 

We  are  enabled,  in  this  place,  to  add  another  illustration 
of  a  feature  which  we  have  already  noticed — his  catholic 
spirit.    Firm  he  was  in  his  attachment  to  his  own  Church, 
and  tenacious  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel ; 
yet  he  well  knew  how  to  exercise  a  Christian  charity  to 
those  who  differed  from  him.    He  had  long  felt  that  there 
was  an  unnecessary  distance  between  different  sects  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  he  desired  to  see  measures  adopted 
that  might  unite  them  more  closely  together.    In  one  of  his 
sermons  after  his  return  from  Europe,  preached  on  the  text, 
"  By  whom  shall  Jacob  arise  ?  for  he  is  small"  (Amos,  vii., 
2),  he  alleged,  as  one  of  the  causes  of  the  comparatively 
slow  advance  of  piety,  and  the  dwarfish  state  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  a  want  of  proper  union  in  heart  and  effort 
among  the  different  denominations  ;  and  as  this  discourse 
was  delivered  in  a  Methodist  church,  there  was  no  room  for 
suspecting  that  he  followed  the  example  of  those  who  preach 
liberality  abroad,  but  bigotry  at  home.    Dr.  Fisk  did  not  lay 
down  rules  for  others  that  he  was  unwilling  to  follow  him- 
*  Quoted  from  Mrs.  Shelley's  Eminent  French  Writers. 


CHRISTIAN  UNION.  REVIVAL. 


393 


self.  The  following  is  from  a  letter  written  about  this  time 
to  his  old  and  tried  friend,  the  Reverend  John  Lindsey  : 

"  I  am  heartily  convinced  that  there  is  too  little  union  of 
feeling  and  of  effort  among  Christians  of  different  denomina- 
tions, and  that,  until  a  change  can  be  effected  by  some  means 
on  this  point,  the  work  of  God  in  all  its  branches  will  be  re- 
tarded. I  therefore  wish  full  success  to  all  designs  and  ef- 
forts to  increase  1  Christian  union.'  With  respect  to  the  best 
means  of  accomplishing  this,  I  have  no  mature  thoughts  or 
plans.  It  must  certainly  be  of  service,  however,  to  bring  it 
prominently  before  the  Christian  public  in  a  way  to  excite 
public  attention  and  inquiry.  The  evils  of  disunion  should 
be  presented  and  illustrated  by  facts,  and  the  advantages  of 
united  effort  should  be  portrayed.  Hence  some  public 
agency  or  association  on  the  subject,  prudently  managed, 
would  seem  desirable.  Willbur  Fisk. 

"  Middletown,  December  17,  1836." 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  the  Methodist  congregation  in  Mid- 
dletown, under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Charles  K. 
True,  was  favoured  with  a  blessed  work  of  grace,  in  which 
the  University  largely  participated.  In  this  work  Dr.  Fisk 
was  deeply  interested,  and  seldom  appeared  to  greater  ad- 
vantage. He  laboured  diligently  and  efficiently.  It  was 
delightful  to  see  him,  as  the  students  came  forward  for 
prayers,  singing,  praying,  and  conversing  with  them,  solely 
intent  on  leading  them  to  the  "  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world." 

The  character  of  his  preaching  at  this  season  was  remark- 
ably appropriate  and  evangelical.  Divested  apparently  of 
the  stately  forms  of  art,  it  was  delivered  with  all  that  "  sim- 
plicity, dignity,  and  directness"  that  indicate  a  pure  solici- 
tude for  the  triumph  of  truth.  But  then,  conscious  of  the 
high  import  of  his  message,  he  threw  into  his  sermons  all  his 
mental  powers  and  resources.  He  selected  for  his  themes 
the  most  familiar  points  of  the  evangelic  plan,  and  with  evi- 
dent painstaking,  laboured  to  bring  them  home  to  the  un- 
derstanding and  the  heart.    Two  very  common  faults  of  the 

D  D  D 


394 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


pulpit  he  thus  avoided :  one  is,  the  selection  of  topics  so  re- 
motely connected  with  personal  piety  as  to  leave  the  con- 
science of  the  hearer  untouched,  and  his  feelings  uninterest- 
ed ;  the  other  is,  discussing  more  familiar  themes  in  a  man- 
ner so  indifferent,  and  with  such  little  effort  of  mind,  and  va- 
riety of  thought  and  illustration,  as  to  create  an  impression 
that  the  speaker  is  not  interested  in  his  own  peculiar  busi- 
ness. If  he  treated  on  the  doctrine  of  repentance,  or  faith, 
or  regeneration,  it  was  with  such  clearness  of  statement 
and  amplitude  of  scriptural  illustration,  as  exhibited  at  once 
the  experienced  Christian  and  the  able  theologian.  Such 
preaching  will  always  be  interesting  to  those  who  have  a 
proper  conception  of  the  great  end  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 
It  is  like  a  person  mapping  out  a  road  for  future  travellers, 
over  which  he  has  passed  himself  until  he  has  become  fa- 
miliar with  all  its  waymarks. 

Dr.  Fisk's  attention  had  been  directed  for  some  time  to 
the  relation  existing  between  the  colleges  and  academies  un- 
der the  control  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  thought  that, 
in  many  cases,  a  student  remaining  at  an  academy  after  he 
was  sufficiently  prepared  to  enter  college,  for  the  sake  of 
entering  a  higher  class,  was  detrimental  to  all  parties.  Un- 
der this  conviction,  he  wrote,  as  a  private  letter  to  a  princi- 
pal of  one  of  the  academies,  an  article  on  the  subject,  which, 
on  subsequent  reflection,  he  sent  to  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal.  This  paper  was  not  entirely  satisfactory  to 
some  of  the  principals  and  teachers  of  the  academies,  and,  in 
consequence,  he  received  one  or  two  letters  asking  an  expla- 
nation. From  the  Rev.  George  (now  Dr.)  Peck,  at  that 
time  at  the  head  of  the  Cazenovia  Seminary,  he  received  a 
communication,  to  which  the  following  is  his  reply : 

»  Middletown,  July  12,  1837. 

"  My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  views  correspond  with  mine,  I  believe,  exactly.  If 
the  providence  of  God  interpose,  and  the  student  cannot  go 
to  college  four  years,  then  he  must  waive  it,  and  do  the  next 
best  way.  I  only  wish  these  students  might  be  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  making  every  exertion,  and  not  sup- 
pose it  is  a  matter  of  very  little  consequence  whether  they 


COLLEGES  AND  ACADEMIES. 


395 


go  to  college  or  not  the  first  years  of  their  course  ;  and  even 
in  the  case  proposed,  it  would  be  a  grave  question  whether, 
in  most  instances,  a  thorough  course  in  part  of  their  studies 
would  not  be  ttetter  than  a  hurried  and  an  imperfect  course 
in  all,  even  if  honoured  with  a  degree  by  adopting  the  latter 
plan.  This  hurried  and  imperfect  education  is  very  much 
better  than  none ;  but  it  does  not  educate  the  mental  powers; 
it  gives  them  knowledge,  and  that  is  well ;  but  even  this 
knowledge  is  not  as  likely  to  stick  as  though  the  ground  was 
thoroughly  prepared  ;  much  less  is  it  likely  to  bear  as  abun- 
dant a  harvest  in  after  life.  This  kind  of  education  is  the 
origin  of  most  of  the  ultraism  in  the  land.  We  are  getting, 
in  fact,  to  propel  everything  by  steam,  and  hurry  over  the 
world  with  a  railroad  speed.  Is  it  not  so  ?  With  regard  to 
those  who  cannot  or  will  not  go  to  college  at  all,  I  think  it 
very  desirable  that  they  have  such  advantages  as  can  be  fur- 
nished them  in  our  high  academies ;  and  in  this  respect  I 
think  these  institutions  are  doing  a  vast  amount  of  good  in 
the  Church  and  in  the  country.  I  do  not  wish  them  to  cast 
off  this  class  of  scholars  :  I  should  think  it  would  be  a  great 
calamity  to  do  so.  Persuade  as  many  of  them,  however,  to 
go  to  college  as  you  can,  and  then  do  your  very  best  with 
the  others.  You  will  perceive  that  my  aim  was  not  to  dis- 
approve of  this,  but  to  object  to  the  academies'  educating 
the  young  men  in  our  course,  and  then  sending  them  here 
for  us  to  certify  to  their  education  by  an  official  diploma.  I 
did  not  say  the  1  outside  row,  when  left  to  you,  was  as  good 
as  lost?  but  that  the  college  course  would  have  an  '  outside 
row'  even  if  they  entered  sophomore  or  junior;  and  there- 
fore it  was  as  useless  to  stay  away  to  get  rid  of  it,  as  for  the 
farmer  to  refuse  to  plant  an  outside  row  to  avoid  having 
one.  By-the-way,  you  seem  to  think  I  meant  you — if  not  ex- 
clusively, at  least  principally.  This  is  not  the  fact.  I  be- 
gan the  communication  as  a  private  letter  to  the  principal  of 
another  institution  on  this  side  of  the  Hudson,  and  finally  con- 
cluded to  give  it  a  public  and  general  character  :  I  therefore 
meant  you  inclusively  with  others.  I  find  my  sheet  is  full, 
and  I  must  close.    Love  to  all  friends. 

"  Yours  in  affection  and  esteem, 

"  W.  Fisk. 


396 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  Send  us  on  as  many  as  you  can  next  Commencement. 
We  want  our  outside  row  well  planted  ;  and  we  can  insert 
some  in  the  centre,  if  they  are  big  enough.  They  will  droop 
a  little  at  first  when  transplanted  so  large,  but  we  will  water 
them  as  well  as  we  can,  and  try  to  make  them  live." 

As  we  have  had  occasion  to  allude  to  Dr.  Fisk's  senti- 
ments on  theological  education,  we  insert  a  letter  addressed 
to  Mr.  Henry  Bannister,  a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, who  wrote  to  him  for  advice  in  regard  to  the  course 
he  should  pursue. 

"  Middletown,  August  30,  1837. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Absence  at  first,  and,  since  my  return,  our  Commence- 
ment, have  prevented  an  earlier  answer  to  your  esteemed 
favour  of  a  late  date. 

"  With  respect  to  the  principal  topic  of  your  letter,  I  would 
say  that  I  heartily  approve  of  most  of  the  suggestions  and 
sentiments  therein  advanced.  I  would  not  say  that  we 
ought  to  expect  every  one  who  enters  the  ministry  to  go 
through  college  even,  much  less  through  a  theological  sem- 
inary. But,  other  things  being  equal,  the  more  learning  the 
better  ;  and,  as  you  well  observed,  the  time  is  at  hand  [yea, 
now  is),  when  the  Methodist  Church  demands  the  best  talent 
and  the  best  culture  to  fill  many  of  her  important  posts. 

"  I  should  not  think  it  advisable,  however,  for  you  to  go 
through  a  three  years'  course  at  one  of  the  theological  semi- 
naries. Many  things  are  taught  in  those  courses  which  a 
Methodist  preacher  could  better  learn  elsewhere.  The  fol- 
lowing is,  as  it  strikes  me,  a  better  plan  :  In  the  New- York 
University  is  one  of  the  best  Oriental  scholars  probably  there 
is  in  the  country.  There  you  can  study  Hebrew  and  Bib- 
lical Criticism,  and  the  laws  of  Interpretation.  Perhaps  one 
year  will  be  all  you  will  want  for  this  purpose  ;  pastoral  du- 
ties can  be  best  learned  on  the  circuit :  and  during  the  two 
years'  probation,  a  young  man  may  qualify  himself  in  all  that 
is  peculiar  to  Methodism,  and  in  many  points  of  dogmatical 
theology. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


397 


"  I  am  glad  to  discover  that  your  mind  is  deeply,  and,  as 
I  trust,  profitably  exercised  on  the  great  subject  of  the  Chris- 
tian ministry.  May  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  lead  you 
into  the  path  of  duty,  and  fit  you  for  it. 

"  Most  affectionately  yours, 

"  W.  Fisk." 

To  Mrs.  M.  K.,  of  Braltleborough. 

"  Middletown,  October,  28,  1837. 

"  My  dear  Cousin, 

H  I  have  often  determined  to  write  soon  since  I  returned,* 
but  find  there  is  no  other  way  than  to  write  now.  if  I  mean 
to  write  at  all.  But  I  cannot  write  much  if  I  write  now. 
It  is  Saturday  evening,  and  to-morrow  I  go  to  a  neighbour- 
ing town  to  preach  to  a  people  that  have  recently  been  vis- 
ited with  a  gracious  shower  of  mercy.  This,  by-the-way,  is 
what  may  be  said  of  many  towns  of  late.  For  years  I  have 
not  heard  of  such  extensive  revivals  as  are  now  reported  to 
us  in  the  news  of  every  week.  It  seems  the  commercial 
embarrassments  of  the  country  are  doing  the  people  good, 
and  they  are  beginning  to  think  that  something  besides  mon- 
ey-making deserves  the  attention  of  immortal  minds. " 

^  ^ 

"  I  trust,  my  dear  cousin,  your  faith  has  increased  since 
last  I  saw  you,  and  that  you  are  trusting  in  our  common  Sa- 
viour with  a  Christian's  confidence.  The  privilege  of  trusting 
in  Christ  is  a  blessed  one,  which  the  most  unworthy  have  the 
most  need  of,  and  the  most  encouragement  to  enjoy.  The 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  the  sick,  hungry,  thirsty,  mourning-, 
sinful,  yea,  the  chief  of  sinners,  all,  all  are  invited  to  trust 
in  Christ.  Which  of  these  are  you  ?  Do  you  say  all  ?  Then 
have  you  all  that  ever  a  poor  sinner  had  to  recommend  you 
to  the  compassion  of  our  merciful  High-priest." 

This  year  (1837)  is  mournfully  memorable  to  many  by  the 
destruction  of  the  steam-packet  Home,  in  which  so  many  hu-  s 
man  beings  found  a  watery  grave.    In  this  ill-starred  vessel 
was  a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  a  young  man  of 

*  That  is,  from  a  journey  to  Lyndon,  in  the  course  of  which  he  stopped  at 
Brattleborough. 

34 


398 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


fine  talents,  amiable  disposition,  and  exemplary  morals.  He 
had  been  seven  years  under  Dr.  Fisk's  care,  and  had  gone,  at 
his  recommendation,  to  the  South  to  take  charge  of  a  school. 
We  allude  to  Mr.  Aaron  C,  son  of  the  Reverend  Heman 
Bangs,  one  of  the  earliest  and  warmest  supporters  of  the 
Wesleyan  University.  The  annexed  letter  of  condolence 
was  written  to  his  mother  on  the  occasion,  while  his  father 
was  gone  down  to  the  coast  to  endeavour  to  regain  the 
corpse  of  their  child. 

"  Middletown,  October  19,  1837. 

"  My  dear  Sister, 

"  When  I  first  heard  of  the  probable  loss  of  your  beloved 
son,  I  thought  of  writing  to  you,  but  the  hope  that  possibly, 
after  all,  he  might  have  been  saved,  led  me  to  forbear. 
The  intelligence  of  this  morning,  however,  having  almost,  if 
not  entirely,  annihilated  that  hope,  I  cannot  longer  forbear 
dropping  a  few  words,  which,  if  they  have  no  other  effect, 
may  contribute  a  little  to  the  assuaging  of  your  bitter  sor- 
row, by  showing  you  that  your  friends  do  not  leave  you  to 
suffer  alone.  Into  a  mother's  grief,  mourning  for  the  loss 
of  her  firstborn  son,  I  know  I  cannot  fully  enter.  But  I 
can  form  some  idea  of  a  mother's  love,  and,  of  course,  of  a 
bereaved  mother's  loss. 

"It  will  be  hardly  any  diminution  of  your  sorrow  to  speak 
of  the  excellences  of  your  son,  and  yet  it  may  be  some  mit- 
igation. If  it  does  not  lessen  the  amount,  it  may  assuage 
the  bitterness  of  your  grief  to  reflect  that  he  was  a  dutiful 
and  affectionate  son ;  that  he  was  an  amiable  and  a  promis- 
ing youth ;  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him ;  and  yet  you  say, 
'from  such  a  son  I  must  be  parted  !'  Ay  !  but,  I  trust,  not 
forever.  God,  in  his  providence,  has  willed  that  he  should 
go  first ;  but  then  you  must  follow  :  and  say  not  that  you 
have  travailed  at  his  birth,  and  laboured  and  watched  over 
him  during  his  childhood  and  youth  in  vain  ;  for,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  mother's  joy,  that  has  been  mingled  all  the 
way  with  a  mother's  love  and  anxiety,  is  it  nothing  that  you 
have  been  instrumental  of  introducing  into  an  endless  exist- 
ence an  intelligent  being  ?    Have  you  not  hope  in  his  death, 


* 


MR.  AARON  C.  BANGS. 


399 


and  is  it  no  consolation  that  you- have  assisted  in  swelling 
the  songs  of  Heaven  ?  Where  could  the  fondest  mother 
more  desire  to  see  her  much-loved  son,  than  ranked  with 
the  heavenly  choirs,  joining  in  the  songs  of  the  redeemed? 
Who  would  not  feel  a  mother's  pain  and  solicitude  for  the 
honoured  privilege  of  being  instrumental  in  peopling  Heav- 
en ?  and  then  you  have,  in  addition,  this  most  efficacious 
lesson  to  lead  your  affections  from  earth  to  Heaven.  Here 
you  may  show  your  faith  and  patience  in  the  dispensations 
of  your  heavenly  Father.  Shall  we  receive  good  at  the 
hand  of  the  Lord,  and  not  evil  ?  *  As  many  as  I  love,'  says 
God,  1  I  rebuke  and  chasten.'  God  is  trying  you  now,  to 
see  whether  your  confidence  in  him  is  so  genuine  and  sin- 
cere, that  you  are  willing  to  trust  in  him  for  enjoyments  in 
his  own  way,  or  whether  you  must  sink  under  the  weight  of 
disappointments,  because  he  has  crossed  your  fondest  wish- 
es. But  you  say,  perhaps,  1  My  heart  is  bruised,  my  wound 
is  incurable.'  God  can  and  will  bind  up  and  sooth  that 
bruised  heart. 

1  Ask  but  his  grace,  and,  lo !  'tis  given.' 
"  My  affectionate  remembrance  to  the  sisters  and  brother. 
Tell  them,  now  that  Aaron  is  gone,  they  must  love  and  hon- 
our their  parents  the  more — must  the  more  carefully  cherish 
their  affection  for  each  other,  and,  above  all,  the  more  care- 
fully prepare  to  follow  their  departed  brother. 

"  Mrs.  Fisk  joins  in  sympathetic  remembrance.  Our  pray- 
ers are  for  you.  When  the  bereaved  father  returns,  assure 
him  of  my  sympathies  and  prayers. 

"  Yours  in  Christian  and  friendly  sympathy, 

"W.Fisk." 

Our  duty  now  requires  us  to  record  an  incident  which  our 
feelings  incline  us  to  suppress  ;  but  it  has  already  been  pla- 
ced before  the  public  in  a  form  calculated  to  do  Dr.  Fisk  an 
injury,  and  that  by  the  only  person  who  can  have  any  cause 
of  complaint  against  this  passage.  Returning  from  New- 
York  early  in  December,  Dr.  Fisk  met  on  board  the  steam- 
boat with  the  Hon.  James  G.  Birney,  well  known  as  an  ac- 
tive agent  in  the  abolition  cause.    In  his  company  were 


400 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


several  gentlemen  of  his  own  sentiments.  By  some  means, 
they  led  Dr.  Fisk  into  a  discussion  of  their  respective  theo- 
ries. It  attracted  considerable  attention,  and  excited  no 
small  interest  among  the  passengers.  Dr.  Fisk  stood  alone, 
while  several  were  opposed  to  him,  who  prompted  and  aided 
each  other.  Yet  he  maintained  his  ground  with,  at  least, 
equal  advantage,  according  to  the  testimony  of  a  gentleman 
who  was  present,  and  with  perfect  dignity  and  self-command. 
A  few  days  after,  he  was  quite  surprised  to  receive  from  Mr. 
Birney  a  letter,  requesting  him  to  correct  a  partial  and  gar- 
bled copy  of  the  discussion,  stating  that  it  was  the  writer's 
intention  to  publish  it.    Here  is  Dr.  Fisk's  answer : 

"  Hon.  James  G.  Birney. 

"Dear  Sir, 

"  I  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  the  reception  of  your  note 
of  the  fourth  instant,  announcing  your  purpose  to  publish  a 
sketch  of  the  discussion  we  held  on  Saturday  last,  on  board 
the  steamboat,  while  on  our  way  from  New-York  to  New- 
Haven. 

"To  this  I  have  many  objections.  Among  others,  before 
I  choose  to  have  my  sentiments  spread  before  the  public,  I 
prefer  to  do  it  myself,  in  my  own  words,  and  in  my  own 
way.  In  these  times  of  public  calumny  and  misrepresenta- 
tion, I  would  not  have  a  familiar  friend  to  publish  my  senti- 
ments for  me,  much  less  an  interested  opponent. 

"  I  object,  also,  to  the  '  sketch'  given  in  your  letter,  as  one- 
sided, deficient,  and  unfair.  I  do  not  accuse  you  of  design- 
ing to  misrepresent  the  conversation  ;  I  only  state  the  fact, 
as  a  reason  for  objecting  to  your  proposed  course.  If  you 
should  publish  the  sketch  as  you  have  given  it  in  your  letter 
to  me,  one  of  two  things  must  follow  :  I  must  be  silent,  and 
thus  suffer  the  public  to  be  deceived,  or  I  must  enter  into  a 
public  controversy  with  you.  For  the  latter  alternative  I 
have  neither  time  nor  inclination.  The  public,  sir,  do  not 
pay  me  a  salary  to  spend  my  time  in  writing  upon  this  sub- 
ject. I  am  engaged  in  other  and  important  duties ;  and,  if 
I  appear  before  the  public,  I  must  choose  my  own  time  and 
manner  of  doing  it,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  other  para- 
mount engagements. 


UNPLEASANT  OCCURRENCE. 


401 


"  It  is  in  accordance  with  the  practice  of  many  abolition- 
ists, I  know,  to  draw  others  before  the  public  when  and  as 
they  will,  without  reference  to  the  proprieties  and  courtesies 
of  life.  That  you,  sir,  are  of  this  character,  I  have  yet  to 
learn.  If,  however,  you  attempt  it  with  me  in  this  case, 
and  in  the  manner  proposed,  you  will  have  learned  before- 
hand that  I  consider  it  unfair,  ungentlemanly ,  and  unchris- 
tian.   Most  respectfully  yours,  W.  Fisk." 

Nevertheless,  the  paper  was  published  by  Mr.  Birney,  to- 
gether with  the  correspondence  relating  to  it.  No  honour- 
able and  impartial  mind  can  approve  of  this  conduct.  The 
discussion  was  of  Mr.  Birney's  own  seeking,  and  on  his  own 
selected,  professional  topic  :  with  Dr.  Fisk  it  was  but  a  sec- 
ondary or  tertiary  subject.  "While  the  one  was  aided  by 
coadjutors,  the  other  stood  alone  in  the  contest.  Mr.  Birney 
had  the  subject  afterward  in  his  own  hands,  wrote  the  ac- 
count to  suit  himself,  and  had  the  advantage  of  his  own  after- 
thoughts. Of  these,  by  his  own  acknowledgment,  he  had 
availed  himself,  while  he  claimed  only  substantial  accuracy 
on  the  one  point  which  he  selected  out  of  the  many  discuss- 
ed. A  slight  variation,  in  such  a  case,  might  make  great 
difference.  These  things  prove  Dr.  Fisk's  assertion,  that  it 
was  "  one-sided,  deficient,  and  unfair."  But,  letting  this 
alone,  he  must  have  a  very  obtuse  sense  of  propriety  who 
will  justify  a  publication  under  such  circumstances.  Let  it 
be  once  understood  that  you  are  always  liable,  in  stage  or 
steamboat,  to  be  drawn  into  controversy  by  any  one  who 
meets  you,  and  that  he  is  at  perfect  liberty  to  publish  the 
conversation  to  the  world,  maugre  all  your  prohibitions,  and 
every  man  must  travel  with  a  gag  in  his  mouth.  It  will 
break  up  all  the  little  urbanity  and  freedom  of  intercourse 
that  now  exists  in  the  travelling  community. 

One  expression  in  Dr.  Fisk's  answer  might  as  well  have 
been  omitted ;  that,  I  mean,  in  which  he  alludes  to  the  Abo- 
litionists as  a  body  ;  but  this  by  no  means  justified  the  se- 
verity of  Mr.  B.'s  reply.  He  seems  to  have  felt  that  he  had 
the  worst  side  of  the  case,  and  he  endeavoured  to  make  up 
in  ardour  what  he  wanted  in  reason. 
34*  E  e  e 


402 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


In  connexion  with  this,  for  the  sake  of  unity,  we  introduce 
another  incident  connected  with  the  same  gentleman.  In 
the  following  May  (1838),  Dr.  Fisk  delivered  an  address  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Colonization  Society  in  New- York.  He 
stated  that  a  certain  coloured  man  had  become  dissatisfied 
with  the  Abolitionists,  had  gone  over  to  the  Colonizationists, 
and  was,  in  fact,  determined  on  emigrating  to  Liberia.  Mr. 
Birney  addressed  a  note  to  Dr.  Fisk  at  the  Book  Room, 
demanding  the  name  of  this  coloured  man.  Meantime,  the 
doctor  had  left  the  city,  and  did  not  receive  the  note  until 
some  weeks  afterward,  when  he  was  in  Boston  attending 
the  New-England  Conference.  It  was  brought  to  him  by 
some  one  directly  from  the  Book  Room — Dr.  Bangs,  I  think. 
After  Mr.  Birney's  former  conduct,  Dr.  Fisk  desired  no  far- 
ther correspondence  with  him,  and  therefore  immediately 
returned  the  letter  through  the  postoffice  unanswered.  The 
writer  then  spread  his  own  version  of  the  affair  before  the 
public,  with  an  asperity  unwarranted  by  the  facts.  He 
charged  him  not  only  with  "  littleness,"  want  of  "  generosi- 
ty," "justice,"  and  "magnanimity,"  but  also  with  "inex- 
perience" and  "  simplicity,"  and  gives  the  public  to  un- 
derstand that,  "  whatever  credit  his  (Dr.  Fisk's)  bare  word 
may  have  with  particular  friends  and  admirers,"  that  he 
(Mr.  B.)  would  not  believe  him  "  without  the  proof." 

Against  Mr.  Birney  we  have  nothing  farther  to  say.  He 
enjoys  the  reputation  of  an  honourable  character  as  well  as  of 
distinguished  abilities.  If  this  be  truly  deserved,  as  I  have 
no  reason  to  doubt  other  than  what  is  implied  in  the  above 
transactions,  he  furnishes  only  an  additional  evidence  of  the 
distorting  influence  of  party  spirit,  which  has  so  frequently 
turned  wisdom  and  goodness  from  their  proper  course.  Nei- 
ther do  we  wish  to  implicate  those  with  whom  Mr.  Birney  is 
associated.  Every  individual  must  be  held  responsible  for 
his  own  conduct,  for  which  his  partisans  are  accountable 
only  so  far  as  they  participate  in,  or  justify  it. 

Immediately  on  his  return  from  Europe,  Dr.  Fisk  set 
about  writing  his  Travels.  It  was,  in  his  state  of  health  and 
with  his  engagements,  a  serious  undertaking.  But  the  pub- 
lic demanded  the  work,  and,  moreover,  he  was  anxious  to 


DR.  FISK'S  TRAVELS.  CONTROVERSY. 


403 


do  something  towards  defraying  jthe  expenses  of  his  tour.* 
Through  numberless  interruptions  he  pursued  his  labours, 
and  early  in  the  year  1838  it  was  presented  to  the  public. 
To  prepare  for  the  press  a  volume  of  seven  hundred  pages, 
in  twelve  months  or  less,  was  ample  work  for  a  man  of  lei- 
sure ;  but  for  a  person  in  Dr.  Fisk's  state  of  health,  with  his 
innumerable  and  diversified  occupations,  it  was  astonish- 
ing. His  friends  feared  that  he  was  not  doing  himself  jus- 
tice ;  others  feared  that  the  labour  would  again  prostrate  him. 
Nevertheless,  the  volume  was  completed,  and  its  success  sur- 
passed the  expectations  of  the  most  sanguine.  It  speedily 
ran  through  seven  editions,  and  not  less  than  eight  thousand 
copies  have  been  sold. 

Dr.  Fisk's  pen  was  seldom  unemployed  for  any  length  of 
time.  While  preparing  his  Travels,  he  wrote  several  occa- 
sional articles  for  different  periodicals ;  and,  on  their  com- 
pletion, he  published  a  series  of  papers  in  opposition  to  the 
measures  that  were  distracting  the  Church.  The  contro- 
versy in  the  Church  had  now,  in  a  great  degree,  deviated 
from  the  main  question  of  slavery,  and  turned  upon  points 
of  ecclesiastical  jurisprudence,  such  as  the  power  of  the  bish- 
ops and  presiding  elders,  the  relation  of  the  subordinate 
Conferences  to  each  other  and  to  the  General  Conference, 
and  various  other  kindred  topics.  It  was,  in  fact,  an  exten- 
sion, in  a  somewhat  modified  aspect,  of  the  old  radical  con- 
troversy into  New-England,  where  it  had  not  before  been 
debated.  Dr.  Fisk  had  long  foreseen  this  result.  In  a  let- 
ter to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Few  in  1837,  after  conceding  to  the  abo- 
litionists purity  of  intention,  and  showing  how  high- wrought 
emotion  had  misled  them,  he  proceeds,  "  Their  object,  then, 
is  this,  either  to  bring  the  great  whole  of  the  Church  into 
their  views  and  measures,  or  to  divide  the  Church."!  For 

*  Dr.  Fisk  made  the  offer  of  his  expenses  to  the  trustees,  which  they  gener- 
ously declined.  He  then  proposed  that,  if  they  would  build  a  house  for  the  pres- 
ident, he  would  contribute  the  avails  of  his  Travels  towards  it,  to  go  without 
interest  so  long  as  it  should  be  occupied  by  himself,  and  to  pay  six  per  cent,  in- 
terest to  him  or  his  heirs  in  case  of  his  removal  or  death.  This  proposal  was 
accepted,  and  the  house  was  built.  About  two  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars 
were  contributed  from  the  profits  of  the  Travels. 

t  Only  the  more  violent  are  here  intended ;  and  the  division  of  the  Church 
was  to  be  only  a  last  resort  to  accomplish  the  end. 


404 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


this  purpose,  the  officers,  institutions,  and  government  of  the 
Church  were  denounced  by  some  of  the  more  indiscreet  with- 
out mercy,  and  held  up  to  public  odium.  Dr.  Fisk  did  not 
believe  this  to  be  the  best  way  to  accomplish  any  moral  or 
religious  purpose.  He  also  foresaw  that  the  course  things 
were  taking  would  carry  this  question  to  the  polls,  so  that, 
instead  of  being  debated  on  grounds  strictly  moral  and  reli- 
gious, it  would  become  a  question  of  party  politics  ;  and, 
if  it  should  come  under  the  influence  of  political  chicanery 
and  intrigue,  and  in  this  temper  become  the  dominant  influ- 
ence of  the  North,  it  must  inevitably  lead  to  a  dismember- 
ment of  the  great  Confederation,  and  probably  strike  the 
deathblow  to  national  liberty  as  well  as  to  the  hope  of  eman- 
cipation to  the  slaves.  This  course  of  things  had  already 
commenced.  In  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Fillmore,  dated 
Oct.  17th,  1838,  he  says,  "  They  are  now  driving  it  into  pol- 
itics— political  action,  they  say,  is  the  only  thing.  Alas  !  how 
frail  is  human  nature  !  When  I  forewarned  them,  at  the 
very  outset  of  this  business,  that  it  would  run  into  party  pol- 
itics, they  almost  thought  I  slandered  them.  It  was  a  great 
moral  question,  they  said  ;  and,  as  such,  was  proper  business 
for  ministers  and  Christians :  and  now  this  great  moral 
question  is  to  be  decided  by,  as  the  Emancipator  tells  us, 
4  looking  well  to  the  ballot-boxes;'  not  by  looking  to  see 
whether  the  candidate  for  office  be  a  sound,  upright  man, 
but  whether  he  will  answer  certain  specific  questions  to  meet 
their  views."  The  result  thus  justified  Dr.  Fisk's  prescience. 
His  prediction  had  already  come  to  pass.  Taking  all  the 
aspects  of  the  affair,  morally,  ecclesiastically,  politically,  not 
omitting  its  ulterior  bearings  upon  slavery  itself,  he  consid- 
ered its  prognosis  every  way  alarming.  He  thought  it  an 
awful  crisis.  To  him,  the  unity  alike  of  the  Church  and  the 
nation,  the  perpetuity  of  our  institutions,  and,  possibly,  our 
national  existence,  seemed  to  be  trembling  upon  the  breath 
of  the  populace.  Another  step,  and  he  knew  not  but  the 
golden  chain  that  binds  together  the  Church  and  the  States 
would  be  broken.  He  seemed  to  himself  to  be  standing 
under  the  arch  of  a  splendid  temple,  raised  with  infinite  cost, 
and  skill,  and  sacrifice,  while  its  foundations  and  pillars  were 


ABOLITION  CONTROVERSY. 


405 


giving  way,  and  threatening  to  bury  him  and  multitudes  be- 
neath its  ruins.  The  danger  was  the  greater,  because  the 
violence  of  the  North  provoked  equal  violence  at  the  South  ; 
and  when  two  such  antagonistic  spirits  were  aroused,  there 
was  no  knowing  what  the  result  might  be.  Hence,  writing 
again  to  Dr.  Few,  and  exhorting  the  South  to  quietness  and 
forbearance,  thus  pouring  oil  upon  the  yesty  waves  of  strife, 
he  says,  "  But  if  the  South  should  become  alienated,  what 
would  become  of  us,  who  have  thrown  ourselves  in  the  way 
of  these  modern  reformers  ?  Let  them  get  the  power,  and 
we  shall  be  sacrificed."  It  may  be  that,  by  dwelling  long 
upon  the  subject,  his  mind  had  taken  too  dark  a  view  of  the 
prospect ;  yet,  as  he  had  seen  his  predictions  become  his- 
tory in  other  cases,  it  might  also  have  become  so  in  this,  had 
not  a  better  spirit  come  over  the  land. 

Under  these  impressions,  Dr.  Fisk  wrote  his  various  arti- 
cles upon  this  mooted  question.  His  papers  on  Conference 
Rights,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Luckey,  and  published  in 
the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  and  his  appeal  "  To 
the  Members  and  Ministers  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern 
Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  together 
with  sundry  fugitive  and  occasional  articles,  were  written 
about  this  time.  For  these  papers  he  received  a  very  abun- 
dant share  both  of  praise  and  blame,  publicly  and  privately, 
not  omitting  some  anonymous  lucubrations,  half  moonshine 
and  half  mist. 

In  these  discussions  we  are  under  no  obligation  to  say  that 
Dr.  Fisk  never  exhibited  any  undue  warmth  of  feeling.  His 
feelings  certainly  were  strongly  excited  in  view  of  the  inter- 
ests pending,  and  he  often  wrote  with  great  urgency.  But, 
had  he  evinced  much  greater  warmth  than  he  did,  it  would 
not  have  been  surprising,  considering  how  he  was  assailed. 
A  certain  London  editor,  who  replied  to  Dr.  Fisk's  account 
of  the  slavery  question  in  England,  employed  language,  tried 
by  what  code  you  please,  highly  reprehensible.  To  speak 
of  any  respectable  man  as  a  "  busy  blockhead,"  giving  a 
"  plausible  misrepresentation,"  and  adding,  "  the  lie  (short 
words  are  sometimes  most  convenient)  passes  current  at 
least  four  months  before  it  can  be  contradicted,"  really 


406 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


places  its  author  so  low  in  the  scale  of  society  that  he  is  be- 
neath notice.  Yet  this  language  was  the  very  pink  of  cour- 
tesy compared  with  what  came  from  a  renowned  personage 
in  Boston.  To  repeat  it  after  the  other  would  be  stepping 
from  St.  James's  to  Billingsgate.  One  passage  alone  is 
enough  :  "  May  God  convert  your  proud  and  stony  heart, 
Willbur  Fisk  !"  Such  a  specimen  of  apostrophizing  as  runs 
through  that  article  is  quite  unique,  "  Well,"  said  Dr.  Fisk, 
with  one  of  his  pleasant  smiles,  after  reading  it,  "  that  goes 
a  little  beyond  anything  I  have  seen  before."  Such  was  ha- 
bitually his  calm  and  unruffled  temper. 

In  this  state  of  things,  Dr.  Fisk  attended  the  New-England 
Conference,  held  this  summer  in  Boston.  It  was  a  trying 
scene  to  him,  and  very  laborious.  Besides  the  business  of 
the  Conference,  in  which  he  always  participated  largely,  and 
which  was  this  year  unusually  onerous,  he  had  personal  de- 
mands upon  him  to  meet.  A  junior  member  of  the  body, 
the  editor  of  Zion's  Watchman,  presented  against  him  a 
charge  of  defamation,  and  it  was  for  some  time  doubtful 
which  way  the  case  would  be  decided.  Fortunately,  how- 
ever, by  sending  to  New- York,  two  most  respectable  and 
competent  witnesses  were  produced,  who  completely  neu- 
tralized the  accusation.  The  triumph  was  complete  ;  and 
the  accuser  voluntarily  and  unconditionally  withdrew  the 
charge.  At  this  Conference  was  also  passed  the  healing 
measure  known  as  the  "  Pacification  Bill."  It  originated 
with  the  Rev.  Gershom  F.  Cox,  who  did  himself  great  hon- 
our by  his  services  on  the  occasion.  After  being  freely  and 
fully  canvassed  by  the  leaders  of  the  respective  parties,  Dr. 
Fisk  taking  his  full  share  of  the  labour,  it  was  adopted  by 
almost  the  entire  Conference,  who  pledged  themselves  to 
abide  by  its  provisions.  The  reader  may  find  the  whole  doc- 
ument in  vol.  xii.,  No.  48,  of  the  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal. 

The  anxiety  and  labours  of  this  Conference  wrought  very 
serious  effects  upon  our  subject's  health.  He  was  very  much 
prostrated.  "  On  his  return  home,"  says  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  he 
was  more  feeble  than  I  had  ever  seen  him,  except  when  con- 
fined to  bed."    This  led  to  a  touching  incident  in  conjugal 


STATE  OF  HEALTH.  END  OF  THE  CONTROVERSY.  407 


life,  worthy  the  effort  of  a  painter.  Mrs.  Fisk  expressed 
her  fears  that  his  late  exertions  would  lay  the  foundation  of 
some  fatal  malady.  His  answer  was,  "I  hope  not;  after 
resting,  I  shall  be  better.  I  have,  to  be  sure,  been  called 
to  make  great  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  Church.  I  have 
done  it  conscientiously,  and  from  a  sense  of  duty.  And," 
added  he,  raising  his  eyes  full  in  my  face,  with  an  expression 
I  had  never  seen  upon  his  countenance  before,  "  my  dear 
wife,  if  my  exertions  could  only  be  the  means  of  uniting  the 
Church,  I  am  willing  my  life  should  be  the  sacrifice.  Is  it 
too  much  to  ask  of  you  ?"  This  was  a  trying  appeal.  Burst- 
ing into  tears,  she  could  only  reply,  "  I  cannot  feel  as  you  do." 

Whatever  opinion  may  be  formed  of  Dr.  Fisk's  exertions 
in  this  conflict  of  minds — and  different  parties  will  think  dif- 
ferently— one  thing,  at  least,  is  certain ;  the  Church  has  come 
pretty  much  on  to  his  ground.  The  file-leaders  in  the  ad- 
verse movement  have  lost  their  hold  upon  the  public  mind. 
The  Eastern  Conferences  have  reverted  back  to  the  old 
and  long-tried  principles  of  Church  polity  and  government. 
In  the  "  seething  and  boiling  of  the  caldron,  the  scum," 
what  little  there  was,  "has  floated  off;"  but  the  residuum 
is  sterling.  The  last  session  of  the  New-England  Con- 
ference especially,  where  there  had  been  great  contention, 
was  extremely  pleasant  and  soundly  Methodistical.  We 
could  not  but  think  that,  had  the  spirit  of  our  subject,  ere  it 
departed,  caught  a  glimpse  of  this  distant  prospect,  it  would 
have  shed  the  radiance  of  delight  upon  his  closing  hours. 
He  left  us  just  at  the  darkest  period.  Had  he  survived  a  few 
years,  he  would  have  been  ranked  among  the  conservators 
of  the  Church,  and  would  have  stood  higher  than  ever  in  the 
estimation  of  his  brethren.  The  sun  never  looks  more  glo- 
rious than  just  after  an  eclipse,  and  a  virtuous  man  never 
commands  such  high  regards  as  immediately  after  a  season 
of  partial  obscuration. 

It  ought  to  be  remarked,  that  this  was  not  the  only  topic 
or  occasion  on  which  our  subject  manifested  his  preference 
for  temperate  measures.  The  reader  has,  no  doubt,  remark- 
ed the  same  disposition  in  him  respecting  the  anti- Masonic 
excitement.  With  his  wonted  consistency,  he  also  showed  it 


408 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


on  the  Temperance  Question,  which  he  thought  was  now 
running  into  extravagances  that  threatened  to  mar  the  en- 
terprise. He  approved  as  much  as  ever  of  the  object  of  the 
Temperance  movement,  namely,  to  discourage  the  use  of  all 
intoxicating  drinks,  whether  distilled  or  fermented  ;  but  he 
disliked  the  ground  assumed  in  regard  to  the  latter  class,  and 
especially  the  discussion  on  the  use  of  wine  at  the  sacrament. 
He  was  for  rigidly  adhering  to  truth  and  reason  in  our  views 
of  things,  and  to  moderation  and  sobriety  in  our  measures. 
He  believed  that,  whenever  we  go  beyond  these  in  grasping 
at  immediate  effects,  the  issue  will  generally  be  detrimental 
to  the  cause  it  was  intended  to  favour.  He  hit  off  this  sub- 
ject at  a  stroke  in  one  of  his  piquant  and  somewhat  facetious 
remarks  at  the  New- York  Colonization  Society.  "  We  live," 
said  he,  "in  an  age  of  ultraism;  and  we  can  scarcely  en- 
gage in  any  enterprise,  in  spite  of  the  devil,  but  he  himself 
will  turn  charioteer,  and  ruin,  by  intemperate  zeal,  a  cause 
which  he  cannot  resist." 

We  insert  some  letters  which  belong  to  this  period  of  our 
history : 

To  the  Rev.  Charles  P.  Bragdon. 

"  Middletown,  January  15,  1838. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  esteemed  favour  was  duly  received.  In  reply  to 
the  question  whether  baptism  should  be  administered  by  a 
Methodist  preacher  (for  I  understand  this  to  be  the  purport 
of  your  inquiry)  to  one  who  denies  the  divinity  of  Christ,  I 
should  answer  it  most  decidedly  in  the  negative,  and  for  this 
plain  reason  :  I  should  not  consider  that  such  a  person  or 
man  possessed  the  faith  which,  in  my  opinion,  is  indispensa- 
bly prerequisite  for  the  admission  of  adults  to  baptism.  The 
requisition  to  believe  in  order  to  baptism  is  clearly  indicated 
in  the  New  Testament  in  reference  to  adults ;  and  Christ  is 
the  object  of  this  faith — Christ  in  his  true  character.  In 
short,  the  very  foundation  of  the  Christian  character,  and, 
of  course,  of  motives  for  Christian  ordinances,  is  faith  in 
Christ.  I  could  not,  therefore,  give  this  ordinance  to  one 
who  denies  Christ  in  his  essential  character.    I  would  not, 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


409 


by  this,  say  no  man  can  be  saved  who  denies  the  divinity  of 
Christ.  This  denial  may  be  the  result  of  an  error  of  the 
head,  while  the  heart  may  trust  in  Christ.  Against  the  pos- 
sible salvation,  therefore,  of  such  an  individual,  I  would  not 
contend  ;  but  when  I  undertake  to  build  up  a  visible  Church, 
and  fix  the  grand  principles  of  faith  and  practice  for  public 
example  and  external  influence,  I  must  build  nothing  but 
the  gold,  and  silver,  and  precious  stones  of  Gospel  truth, 
lest  not  only  my  own  works  should  suffer  loss,  but  also  my 
own  salvation  be  endangered.  Besides,  how  can  I  baptize 
a  man  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  when 
I  know  that  he  receives  the  ordinance  in  the  name  of  Christ 
in  a  widely  different  sense  from  that  in  which  I  use  the  name 
when  I  solemnly  repeat  it  in  the  ordinance  ?  Either  I  who 
administer  am  an  idolater,  or  he  who  receives  the  ordinance 
is  no  Christian.  In  either  case,  it  would  be  utterly  incon- 
sistent for  him  to  receive  the  ordinance  at  my  hand,  or  for  me 
to  administer  it. 

"  Yours  in  Christian  bonds,  W.  Fisk." 

The  following  two  letters  wrere  written  to  a  graduate  of 
the  Wesleyan  University,  whom  Dr.  Fisk  had  recommended 
for  the  presidency  of  a  college  at  the  South.  They  will  ex- 
plain, in  some  degree,  the  secret  of  his  own  success  in  the 
government  of  literary  institutions  : 

"Wesleyan  University,  March  1,  1838. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  acceptable  favour  of  the  24th  ult.  is  just  received. 

I  am  highly  gratified  that  you  have  concluded  to  go  to  , 

and  have  strong  confidence  that  you  will  succeed.  It  is 
well  you  have  made  up  your  mind  to  try  the  ministry.  If 
God  have  called  you  to  this  office,  it  will  be  an  additional 
qualification  also  for  the  head  of  an  institution.  Will  it  not 
be  best  for  you  to  take  a  license  with  you  ?  I  certainly 
think  it  would. 

"  I  have  another  thought  to  suggest.  You  are  aware,  I 
presume,  that  Southern  colleges  have  suffered  more  from 
35  F  f  f 


410 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


the  officious  interference  of  the  trustees  than  from  any  other 
source.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  state  institutions. 
When  Mr.  F.  first  wrote  to  me  on  the  subject,  I  inform- 
ed him  I  thought  a  man  might  be  obtained  who  would  suit 
them,  provided  they  would  permit  him  to  have  a  control- 
ling voice  in  the  organization  of  the  faculty  and  in  the  in- 
ternal arrangement  of  the  school.  The  reply  was,  that  they 
should  certainly  be  willing  to  do  that,  provided  they  had  a 
man  in  whom  they  found  they  could  confide.  This  is  all 
we  could  expect. 

"  Now  the  perfection  of  management  in  a  principal  or 
president  is  to  manage  with  such  prudence  and  judgment  as 
to  be  able  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  board  in  carry- 
ing out  his  plans.  The  truth  is,  a  public  institution  will 
never  flourish  when  the  president  is  merely  the  instrument 
to  carry  out  the  details  of  the  board.  The  board  must  be 
his  instrument  in  carrying  out  his  plans.  I  speak,  of  course, 
with  respect  to  the  government,  the  course  of  study,  the  or- 
ganization of  the  faculty,  &c.  In  money  matters,  of  course, 
they  are  the  legal  organ.  But  even  here  the  president  must 
keep  a  good  look-out,  and  assist  in  all  matters  of  economy 
and  finance  as  far  as  he  can.  In  short,  the  president  must 
be  the  head  and  soul.  A  man  that  cannot  govern  the  facul- 
ty, the  trustees,  and  the  students,  and  all  without  seeming  to 
aspire  to  rule,  is  hardly  qualified  for  the  place.  This  he  will 
always  be  able  to  do,  if  his  plans  are  wise,  and  are  executed 
with  prudence  and  moderation.  And  although  your  youth, 
and  your  Northern  birth  and  education,  may  prevent  you 
from  speaking  and  acting  with  so  great  freedom  at  first,  yet 
you  will  have  a  countervailing  advantage  in  the  fact  of  its 
being  a  new  institution,  and  of  its  coming  into  existence  un- 
der your  care.  I  would  advise,  then,  that  you  get  young 
men  for  your  colleagues,  so  that  you  may  mould  them  to 
your  will ;  that  you  have  few  regulations  in  the  form  of  trus- 
tee statutes.  Require  them,  if  they  are  inclined  to  make 
laws  (except  what  relates  to  terms,  &c),  to  let  you  experi- 
ment a  little  at  first,  and  find  out  what  you  need,  and  when 
you  think  you  have  gained  their  confidence,  always  evade, 
in  the  least  offensive  way  possible,  any  interference  of  the 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


411 


board  in  the  government.  As  faf  as  you  can  do  it  without 
giving  offence,  I  think  your  faculty  should  be  selected  from 
Northern  men. 

"  Pardon  the  freedom  with  which  I  give  counsel.  My 
anxiety  that  you  get  the  right  start  is  my  excuse. 

"  Yours  in  affection,  W.  Fisk." 

"  Wesleyan  University,  August  14,  1838. 

"My  dear  Brother, 

"  Your  interesting  favour  was  duly  received,  and  would 
have  been  answered  before,  but  that  the  continued  pressure 
of,  first,  the  Conferences,  then  our  examination,  after  that, 
sickness,  and,  finally,  our  Commencement,  and  the  accompa- 
nying and  consequent  bustle  and  labour,  has  hitherto  pre- 
vented. But  all  seems  now  to  be  settling  down  into  a  reg 
ular  calm.  Our  classes  are  organized,  and  our  machinery  is 
oiled,  and  plays  in  unison,  without  derangement  or  friction. 
Much  to  your  disappointment,  I  fear,  tutors  R.  and  K.  are 
tending  a  part  of  our  machinery,  which,  from  their  former 
acquaintance,  as  well  as  from  their  excellent  ability,  they  are 
enabled  to  do  to  good  advantage.  They  are  fine  young 
men,  and  would,  I  am  persuaded,  do  well  almost  anywhere. 
But  as  it  seems  all-important  to  keep  the  old  flag-ship  well 
officered  and  manned,  for  the  good  of  the  whole  fleet,  we 
presume  you  will  cheerfully  accord  to  us  these  subalterns  for 
the  present.  In  this  way  we  shall  be  able  to  train  and  fur- 
nish officers  for  the  and  and  such  other  gal- 
lant crafts  as  belong  to  our  fleet.  Please  make  your  selec- 
tion out  of  all  the  rest.  I  think  well  of  A.,  and  I  also  think 
very  well  of  C,  now  at  Amenia,  as  also  of  W.  and  many 
others. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  prosperity  and  prospects.  A 
great  door  and  effectual  seems  to  be  opened  to  you,  and  I 
trust  there  are  few  or  no  adversaries.  May  you  have  wis- 
dom and  grace  to  aid  you.  I  say  grace,  for  in  nothing,  in 
my  own  experience,  have  I  realized  the  Divine  aid  more 
than  in  directing  me  in  those  official  duties  which  I  had  un- 
dertaken for  the  sake  of  his  cause.    Prayer  will  bring  that 


412 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


assistance  ;  for  inspiration  itself  has  said,  £  If  any  man  lack 
wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,'  &c. 

"  The  present  graduates  are  mostly  provided  for,  and 
more  of  the  first  class  are  wanted  than  we  can  supply. 
" 1  shall  ever  be  happy  to  hear  from  you. 

"  In  much  affection,  yours  truly, 

"  W.  Fisk." 

To  his  Parents. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  April  8,  1838. 

"My  dear  Parents, 

"  By  this  time  I  suppose  you  are  settled  in  your  new 
home.  I  should  be  pleased  to  look  in  upon  you,  and  see 
how  you  are.  I  hope  your  new  dwelling  is  comfortable  as 
to  finish,  water,  arrangement  of  apartments,  &c. ;  but  still  I 
fear  that,  while  you  may  have  gained  in  some  respects,  you 
may  have  lost  in  others.  There  is  your  orchard,  and  your 
plums,  and  your  currants ;  there  is  your  sugar  orchard, 
your  beautiful  grove  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  all  of 
which  will  be  wanting  in  your  new  residence.  That  was  a 
vile  hill  we  were  obliged  to  climb,  and  I  confess  there  is 
some  pleasure  in  the  reflection  that,  when  I  visit  you  again,  I 
shall  not  be  obliged  to  climb  it.  But  then  there  are  associ- 
ations around  the  brow  of  that  hill  which  I  shall  never  find 
elsewhere  :  not  an  eminence  on  which  I  have  not  gambolled 
in  childhood  ;  not  a  copse  of  trees  with  which  I  have  not 
some  cherished  association ;  the  spring,  the  brook,  the  su- 
gar place,  the  limekiln,  the  pastures,  the  meadows,  the  elm- 
tree,  the  balm-of-Gilead,  the  well  with  its  '  moss-covered 
bucket,'  the  barn  where  I  used  to  feed  the  cattle  and  tend 
the  lambs,  all  crowd  upon  my  mind  when  I  think  of  your 
leaving  that  farm  of  my  childhood.  And  then  the  prospect ! 
There  was  the  slope  of  the  hill  at  the  east,  how  fresh  and 
verdant  in  June,  how  rich  and  varied  in  autumn  !  To  the 
south  the  hills  are  spread  out  before  you  as  a  map  ;  and 
still  farther  on,  the  White  Mountains  display  their  snowy 
sides  and  cloud-capped  tops.  Such  was  that  observatory  of 
nature  on  which  my  young  mind  used  to  expatiate  and  rhap- 
sodize, and  from  which  I  used  to  gaze  upon  the  mountain 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


413 


scenery,  or  watch  the  careering  clouds.  If  anything  of  ge- 
nius or  enterprise  has  characterized  my  life,  I  think  it  is 
measurably  owing  to  these  scenes.  But  the  voice  of  the 
stranger  is  now  heard  in  the  cottage  of  my  childhood.  Well, 
be  it  so  !  When  I  visit  you  I  can  climb  the  hill,  and  hold 
converse  with  the  genii  of  the  groves,  and  live  over,  for  a 
short  time,  the  scenes  of  by-gone  days. 

"  You  are  nearer  public  worship,  and  more  among  conge- 
nial minds,  and  that  is  a  sufficient  compensation  for  other 
sacrifices. " 

To  Mrs.  if.,  of  Brattleboroug-h. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  April  8,  1838. 

"  My  dear  Cousin  M., 

"  It  is  now  some  weeks  since  I  received  your  last  favour, 
and  which,  if  I  rightly  remember,  I  have  not  answered. 
Since  that  time  I  have  been  variously  occupied,  some  of  the 
time  at  home,  and  some  of  the  time  abroad.  I  have  now  but 
lately  returned  from  Washington  City,  where  I  had  an  op- 
portunity not  only  to  see  and  hear  some  of  the  great  ones  of 
the  nation,  but  also  to  proclaim  to  them,  on  the  Sabbath,  in 
the  Capitol,  the  sovereignty  and  grace  of  God.  To  this  they 
listened  with  attention ;  but,  alas !  how  little  hope  of  abiding 
fruit  in  such  a  field  !  Pride  and  ambition,  party  spirit  and  po- 
litical intrigue,  occupy  the  mind,  and  leave  little  room  for  se- 
rious thought,  much  less  for  repentance  and  faith.  I  found  in 
Washington,  however,  some  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth, 
and  some  of  the  members  of  Congress  are  truly  devoted  to 
God  and  his  Church."      #  #  #  # 

"  With  respect  to  your  own  mind,  I  trust  you  find  it  com- 
posed and  peaceful.  It  seems  to  me,  notwithstanding  the 
gloomy  cast  of  your  letter,  that  you  nevertheless  held  on  to 
the  main  pillars  of  the  Christian's  support  and  joy.  So  long 
as  you  can  realize  the  kindness  of  God,  and  feel  that  he 
does  not  forsake  you,  there  seems  little  else  needed.  What 
more  can  you  desire  ?  If  there  is  not  as  much  light  in  your 
path  as  you  desire,  still,  if  God  careth  for  you,  all  will  be 
well.  What  more  light  do  you  desire  than  that  God  is  your 
35* 


414 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


merciful  friend  ?  On  him  let  your  faith  rest,  and  all  things 
are  yours." 

In  the  summer  of  1838,  the  citizens  of  Middletown  deter- 
mined to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  our  nation's  inde- 
pendence with  more  than  usual  eclat.  His  excellency  the 
governor  and  his  suite  were  to  be  present,  with  several  mili- 
tary companies  ;  an  oration  was  to  be  delivered,  and  a  public 
dinner  given.  The  committee  of  arrangements  invited  Dr. 
Fisk  to  deliver  the  oration.  At  first  he  declined.  Never- 
theless, such  was  the  urgency  of  the  committee,  and  such 
the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  substitute,  that  he  reluctantly 
consented.  When  he  received  the  last  urgent  invitation,  he 
was  in  attendance  upon  the  New-England  Conference  at 
Boston,  undergoing  the  labours  already  described,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  intervening  time  was  occupied  in  preparing 
for,  and  attending  to,  the  annual  examination  of  the  classes 
in  the  University.  The  examination  closed  July  3d  ;  hence 
it  was  not  until  between  four  and  five  o'clock  of  the  day  be- 
fore the  celebration  that  Dr.  Fisk  commenced  preparing  his 
oration.  "It  will,"  said  he,  "  be  a  barren  concern;  for  I 
do  not  feel  like  making  any  exertion.  I  shall  pity  the  audi- 
ence." The  notes  of  this  oration  are  now  before  me.  They 
occupy  two  sheets  of  letter-paper,  folded  once,  and  writ- 
ten not  at  all  closely.  But  it  occupied  an  hour  and  a  half 
in  the  delivery.  It  was  an  able,  philosophic,  statesmanlike 
performance.  Instead  of  that  strain  of  unmingled  panegyr- 
ic usual  on  such  occasions,  and  now  almost  worn  thread- 
bare, he  directed  the  attention  of  his  auditory,  after  having 
properly  noticed  the  advantages  of  our  national  independence, 
to  the  dangers  which  threaten,  and  the  means  of  perpetua- 
ting it.  He  dwelt  on  the  pernicious  influence  of  party  spirit, 
the  tendency  of  local  and  sectional  feelings,  and  the  demor- 
alizing effect  of  wrong  notions  of  liberty  and  equality.  It 
was  remarkable  that,  at  a  time  when  the  public  mind  was 
very  captious  on  political  subjects,  with  so  much  impartiality 
did  he  deliver  his  views,  that  no  one  could  determine  from 
the  discourse  itself  to  which  of  the  two  political  parties  he 
belonged.    Both  sides  claimed  him,*  each  admitting  the  cor- 


FOURTH  OF  JULY  ORATION. 


415 


rectness  and  importance  of  his  views.  The  committee  of  ar- 
rangements, in  presenting  him  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  ser- 
vices, earnestly  solicited  a  copy  of  the  address  for  publica- 
tion. But  he  could  not  take  time  to  write  it  out.  He  was 
so  feeble  that  he  went  from  his  bed  to  the  meeting,  and 
thence  back  to  the  sofa. 


416 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Commencement-day  of  1838. — Faithful  Letter. — Traits  of  Character. — Decline 
of  Health. — Last  Visit  to  New-York. — Watch-night. — Protestant  Missions  in 
France. — Centenary  of  Wesleyan  Methodism. — Letters. — Oregon  Mission. 

Ox  the  first  day  of  August  was  held  the  last  Commence- 
ment of  the  Wesleyan  University  that  Dr.  Fisk  attended. 
He  was  extremely  feeble,  and  on  the  morning  of  Commence- 
ment-day it  was  considered  doubtful  whether  he  would  be 
able  to  endure  the  fatigue  incident  to  the  ceremonies.  It 
would  have  been  a  sad  drawback  on  the  pleasure  of  the  sea- 
son to  have  had  the  president's  chair  filled  by  another. 
Anxious  himself,  also,  to  meet  the  wishes  of  his  friends,  as 
well  as  to  see  the  performances,  he  exerted  his  utmost 
strength,  and  went  from  his  bed,  on  which  he  had  reclined 
after  breakfast,  to  the  procession.  He  passed  through  the  day 
better  than  was  feared  ;  yet  there  were  some  eyes  that  look- 
ed upon  him  in  great  doubt  whether  he  would  take  part  in 
another.  The  event  unhappily  justified  their  melancholy 
forebodings.  In  the  evening,  as  usual,  he  entertained  the 
strangers  at  his  own  house,  when  more  than  eighty  attended. 

The  following  is  Dr.  Fisk's  account  of  this  anniversary. 
It  contains,  also,  an  exhibition  of  the  state  and  prospects  of 
the  institution  at  that  period.  It  was  published  in  Zion's 
Herald : 

"  THE  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY. 

"  Mr.  Editor, 

"  Before  I  saw  the  notice  of  our  Commencement  in  the 
Herald,  copied  from  the  Advocate,  I  had  intended  to  com- 
municate a  brief  account  of  our  literary  anniversary,  and,  in 
connexion,  make  some  other  remarks  relating  to  the  institu- 
tion, which  seemed  to  me  at  this  time  particularly  appropri- 
ate. The  account  already  published,  however,  will  preclude 
the  necessity  of  any  farther  notice  of  the  Commencement 
exercises.    I  will  add  my  testimony,  however,  to  what  has 


COMMENCEMENT-DAY  OF  1838. 


417 


already  been  published,  to  the  superior  merit  of  the  oration 
before  the  literary  societies,  by  A.  H.  Everett,  Esq.,  on  the 
literature  of  the  Bible.  It  was  an  intellectual  feast,  and 
rendered  the  more  interesting  to  me  by  the  pleasing  thought 
that  scores  of  young  men,  who  are  destined  to  act  a  public 
part  in  life,  were  imbibing  sentiments  in  favour  of  the  holy 
oracles  which  could  not  fail  deeply  to  interest  them  in  these 
fountains  of  truth.  Professor  Allen's  oration  before  the  Cu- 
vierian  Society  was  highly  spoken  of,  although  I  had  not  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  it.  These  public  occasions,  in  connex- 
ion with  our  literary  institutions,  accomplish  much  for  the 
cause  of  education.  They  give  a  popular  character  and  a 
general  interest  to  the  subject,  and  invest  our  seminaries  of 
learning  with  a  public  sympathy  which  never  could  be  secu- 
red by  the  mere  exercises  of  the  cloister. 

"  We  have  examined  and  received  more  than  sixty  new 
students  for  the  present  collegiate  year,  and  our  whole  num- 
ber on  our  next  catalogue  will  be  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty-two.  Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  we  are  still  on  the  advance 
as  to  numbers,  having  had  a  regular  nett  gain  of  from  ten 
to  twenty  every  year  since  we  opened  the  college  in  1831. 
I  trust,  too,  we  are  advancing  in  all  other  respects,  so  far  as 
our  internal  arrangements  and  advantages  are  concerned. 
We  greatly  need,  however,  increased  accommodations,  both 
for  public  rooms  and  rooms  for  students.  We  have  room 
for  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  in  the  college  buildings, 
and  have  hired  a  small  house  in  which  we  room  thirteen 
more  ;  making  provision,  in  the  whole,  for  one  hundred  and 
thirty-six.  The  remainder  have,  with  difficulty,  found  rooms 
in  the  neighbourhood.  The  question  is  soon  to  be  decided, 
it  seems,  whether  our  friends  will  furnish  the  means  of  en- 
largement according  to  the  probable  advance  of  the  Univer- 
sity, or  whether  our  indifference  and  parsimony  shall  stint 
the  growth  and  blast  the  prospects  of  this  rising  seminary. 
I  beg  our  friends  to  give  this  subject  a  thought,  and  inquire 
what  is  duty  in  this  matter.  Next  year  a  plan  will  be  pre- 
sented to  them,  according  to  the  decision  of  the  annual  Con- 
ference at  its  last  session,  which  will  enable  them,  if  they 
will,  to  do  us  great  service  in  our  pecuniary  concerns. 

G  G  G 


418 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  The  New-England  Conference,  to  her  praise  be  it  spo- 
ken, has  been  the  first,  I  think,  to  lead  the  way  in  forming 
education  societies  in  our  Church.  On  this  subject  I  beg 
the  privilege  of  saying  a  few  words  to  our  brethren.  The 
greater  portion,  probably,  of  those  who  are  going  through 
the  University,  are  young  men  of  straitened  circumstances  ; 
many  of  them  are  getting  an  education  in  view  of  the  minis- 
try ;  but,  to  get  through,  they  are  obliged  to  involve  them- 
selves in  debt,  and  hence,  after  they  graduate,  they  are  com- 
pelled to  enlist  in  the  work  of  teaching  to  discharge  those 
debts.  For  this  purpose  they  emigrate  to  the  West  and 
South  ;  and  perhaps  it  oftener  than  otherwise  happens  that 
they  settle  down  in  this  or  some  other  secular  calling,  and 
the  itinerant  work  is  deprived  of  their  needed  services  ; 
whereas,  if  they  were  prepared  to  go  into  the  field  immedi- 
ately, they  would  greatly  strengthen  the  ministerial  work. 
This  many  would  do  if  the  Church  should  assist  them  in 
their  education.  Two  of  the  beneficiaries  of  the  New-Eng- 
land Education  Society  graduated  this  year,  and  with  warm 
and  willing  hearts  they  are  already  in  the  field,  and  are  the 
only  ones  out  of  a  class  of  twenty-six,  with  one  other  excep- 
tion, who  are  likely  for  the  present,  if  at  all,  to  join  the  trav- 
elling ranks  ;  not  because  there  were  not  several  others  who 
were  licensed  preachers,  but  they  were  in  debt,  and  must 
earn  money  to  discharge  their  obligations.  I  know  it  is 
well  to  raise  up  teachers.  Christian  educators  of  youth  are 
greatly  needed,  and  may  do  a  vast  amount  of  good  ;  but  we 
want  at  least  a  good  proportion  to  enter  the  travelling  con- 
nexion. 

"  In  addition,  it  ought  now  to  be  known,  that  the  board 
have  found  it  necessary  to  curtail  their  credits.  Heretofore 
we  have  credited  any  student  his  board  and  term  bills  who 
could  give  bonds  for  their  payment  in  a  reasonable  time 
after  he  should  graduate  ;  but  this  has  drawn  so  heavily  upon 
our  limited  funds,  that  it  has  been  determined  we  can  at 
present  give  no  man  credit  for  board  ;  for  the  term  bills  we 
still  give  credit,  on  good  security.  This  curtailment  of  credit 
urges  an  additional  argument  in  favour  of  the  Education  So- 
ciety. 


A  FAITHFUL  ADMONITION.  419 

"  What  a  favour  would  some  wealthy  man  confer  on  the 
Church  and  the  country,  if  he  would  give  now,  or  bequeath 
at  his  death,  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  as  a  loan  fund, 
to  be  devoted  to  the  education  of  indigent  young  men,  who 
would  give  bonds  to  refund  the  money  advanced,  with  in- 
terest, in  two  or  three  years  after  they  graduate.  It  would 
be  a  perpetual  charity.  The  interest  would  probably  more 
than  cover  any  losses  that  might  occur,  and  fifty  young  men 
might  in  this  way  be  kept  continually  at  college.  I  know 
of  no  way  by  which  a  greater  amount  of  good  could  be  ac- 
complished by  the  same  amount  of  means. 

"  Before  closing,  I  will  drop  one  word  respecting  the 
comparative  expense  of  our  University.  Some  young  men, 
I  understand,  have  declined  coming  here,  because  they  think 
our  expenses  are  higher  than  at  some  other  colleges.  Now  I 
am  satisfied  that  this  is  only  true  of  a  few  of  our  interior  colle- 
ges ;  and  with  these,  taking  everything  into  the  account,  the 
difference  is  very  small ;  and,  as  an  offset  against  this,  indi- 
gent young  men  who  graduate  with  us  have  the  almost  cer- 
tain prospect  of  getting  employment  immediately  after  they 
graduate.  I  have  such  a  correspondence  on  this  subject 
with  all  parts  of  the  country,  that  all  our  graduates  find  prof- 
itable employment. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  would  add,  to  the  praise  of  God  and 
the  encouragement  of  the  Church,  that  we  have  in  the  Uni- 
versity at  this  time  a  good  state  of  religious  feeling,  and  I 
especially  request  the  Church  to  remember  in  their  prayers 
their  University,  that  converting  and  sanctifying  grace  may 
rest  upon  these  young  men.  W.  Fisk. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  Sept.  12th,  1838." 

"  Copy  of  a  letter,  dated  August  9th,  1838,  and  sent  to  , 

a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  whom,  but  a  few 
days  before,  I  had  seen  rising  from  a  drunkard's  bed  {the 
ground),  where  for  several  hours  he  had  lain  insensible. 

"  My  dear  , 

"Your  note  was  duly  received,  and  its  contents  were  very 
gratifying. 

"  You  cannot  well  conceive  of  the  distress  I  felt  at  seeing 


420 


LIFE  OP  WILLBUR  FISX. 


one  of  the  sons  of  the  Wesleyan  University  rising  up  from 
his  bestial  bed,  and  brushing  the  mud  and  dirt  from  his 
clothes.  I  asked.  Have  I  been  the  cause  of  this,  either  by 
neglect  or  otherwise  ?  Is  it  possible  we  are  toiling  here  to 
educate  young  men  for  victims  of  intemperance  ?  Ruined  ! 
ruined  !  !  thought  I,  forever  !  And  then  I  thought  of  the 
feelings  of  the  father ',  after  all  his  labour  for  his  son.  Ay  ! 
and  I  thought  of  an  educated  mind  becoming  first  a  brute, 
and  then  a  fiend  !  The  soul !  O  !  the  undying  soul  !  !  tor- 
mented with  a  drunkard's  thirst  here,  and  with  the  unmiti- 
gated thirst  of  a  Dives  hereafter !  !  O !  you  are  hanging 
upon  the  verge  of  a  bottomless  abyss — and  fiery  billows  roll 
below  !  Flee  !  flee  !  !  not  merely  to  the  strength  of  your 
firm  resolutions,  but  to  God  :  give  soul  and  body  to  him,  and 
he  will  take  care  of  you.    Trust  nothing  else. 

"  I  said  your  letter  was  very  gratifying.  There  was,  how- 
ever, one  feature  in  it  which  led  me  to  fear  still,  and  that 
was  an  attempt  to  palliate  your  case  by  calling  it  an  acci- 
dent and  the  '  first  time.'  I  do  not  mean  by  this  to  question 
your  veracity ;  but  long  observation  has  taught  me  that, 
when  a  man  begins  to  descend  the  rapids  of  intemperance, 
he  does  not  fully  understand  his  own  danger.  To  drink 
morning  bitters  !  to  have  a  breath  tainted  with  alcohol !  and, 
finally,  to  become  entirely  intoxicated — in  the  morning,  too  ! 
O,  my  dear  sir,  your  danger  is  great,  very  great. 

"  I  should  have  written  to  you  before  I  saw  yours,  but  I 
supposed  you  would  call  to  get  your  diploma,  and  then  I 
could  converse  with  you.  I  now  write  in  grief  but  in  love 
and  in  hope. 

"  O,  may  God  bless  you  and  save  you;  so  prays,  and  so 
will  ever  pray,  while  there  is  hope,  one  who  feels  for  you  as 
a  father,  and  who  is  happy  in  being  able  still  to  subscribe 
himself  your  affectionate  friend,  W.  Fisk." 

It  is  but  just  to  add  that,  as  this  seemed  the  first  offence  of 
the  kind  in  the  young  man,  so  it  was  the  only  one.  He 
wrote  an  answer  to  Dr.  Fisk's  expostulation  full  of  penitence 
and  promises,  which,  we  believe,  have  been  effectual. 

Soon  after  Commencement,  he  went  with  Mrs.  Fisk  to  the 
seashore  to  enjoy  a  change  of  air  and  relaxation.    But  he 


TRAITS  OF  CHARACTER. 


421 


had  only  been  there  three  days  when  he  was  recalled  by  an 
invitation  to  preach  a  sermon  in  behalf  of  a  benevolent  so- 
ciety. 

A  few  observations,  still  farther  illustrative  of  certain  fea- 
tures in  our  subject's  character,  will  not,  we  trust,  be  inap- 
propriate. 

The  reader  will  rightly  judge  that  Dr.  Fisk  was  a  remark- 
ably humble  man  ;  but  his  humility  did  not  assume  any 
equivocal  shapes,  or  appear  under  any  of  those  guises  which 
self-love  often  uses  to  solicit  observation.  He  was  attentive 
to  all  the  proprieties  and  decencies  of  life.  He  affected  no 
needless  singularities.  He  never  thought  of  showing  his 
humility.  It  appeared  in  his  manner  of  receiving  praise,  or 
censure,  or  opposition  ;  in  the  absence  of  all  self-seeking,  and 
the  insidious  modifications  of  pride — envy,  anger,  contempt. 
Though  we  have  seen  him  in  very  various  circumstances,  we 
never  heard  from  him,  for  any  human  being,  that  sure  indi- 
cation of  an  inflated  superiority,  an  expression  of  contempt. 
This  is  no  ordinary  commendation.  A  certain  writer  has 
well  said,  "  The  language  of  contempt  is  not  to  be  found  in 
the  vocabulary  of  a  Christian  ;"  and  the  same  philosophic 
poet  whose  words  we  have  before  employed,  observes,  in  one 
of  his  sonnets, 

"  Know  that  pride, 
Howe'er  disguised  in  its  own  majesty, 
Is  littleness  ;  that  he  who  feels  contempt 
For  any  living  thing,  hath  faculties 
Which  he  has  never  used  ;  that  thought  with  him 
Is  in  its  infancy.    The  man  whose  eye 
Is  ever  on  himself,  doth  look  on  one, 
The  least  of  Nature's  works ;  one  who  might  move 
The  wise  man  to  that  scorn  which  wisdom  holds 
Unlawful  ever." — Wordsworth. 

From  this  vice  he  was  preserved  by  the  equal  development 
of  all  his  faculties,  and  by  that  deep  spirit  of  Christianity 
which  presented  all  objects  in  their  proper  relations  to  each 
other  and  to  the  Infinite  Being  above  us. 

It  has  sometimes  been  the  wonder  of  persons  at  a  distance, 
that  at  home  Dr.  Fisk  was  always  spoken  of  in  terms  of  re- 
spect and  affection  that  seemed  to  border  on  idolatry.  Per- 
haps we  have  solved  the  enigma.  It  was  owing  to  the  over- 
36 


422 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


flowing  affection  of  his  heart,  governed  in  its  utterance  and 
mode  of  expression  by  his  superior  mental  endowments. 
His  own  mind  was  always  "  kept  in  a  just  equipoise  of 
love,"  and  thus, 

"  Rich  in  love 
And  sweet  humanity,  he  was  himself, 
To  the  degree  that  he  desired,  beloved." 

He  used  no  other  witchery ;  but  this  alone  secured  the 
spontaneous  homage  of  the  hearts  around  him. 

The  reader  has  no  doubt  seen,  from  the  course  of  our  his- 
tory, that  Dr.  Fisk's  mind  was  singularly  fertile  in  tender  sen- 
timent. His  thoughts  moved  with  great  alacrity  within  the 
region  of  the  sensibilities.  This  appeared  both  in  his  public 
speaking  and  his  social  intercourse.  Of  the  latter,  the  fol- 
lowing illustration  may  be  given  :  Some  time  the  preceding 
autumn,  a  kind  and  respected  neighbour  was  in  great  afflic- 
tion from  successive  bereavements.  As  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fisk, 
after  the  funeral,  sat  in  the  room  with  their  beloved  friend, 
the  latter  said  to  her  husband,  "  Can  you  not  speak  a  few 
words  to  comfort  Mr.  W.  ?"  He  replied,  with  his  own  ex- 
pressive manner,  "  His  grief  is  too  deep  to  be  reached  by 
human  words.  When  you  and  I,  dear  R,.,  are  parted,  it 
will  not  be  the  lopping  off  of  a  branch :  it  will  be  severing 
the  tree  through  its  trunk,  and  leaving  all  the  delicate  fibres 
exposed,  out  of  which  will  ooze  the  very  heart's  blood. 
Here  the  branches  are  lopped  and  the  trunk  is  severed. 
But  is  it  not  well  that  the  sturdiest  part  remains,  and  that 
the  most  tender  have  found  rest  in  the  bosom  of  their  God, 
who  alone  can  bind  up  the  wounded  ?    And  he  will  do  it." 

We  have  already  had  occasion  to  notice  Dr.  Fisk's  gen- 
tleness of  spirit  in  giving  reproof.  One  feature  in  this  part 
of  his  character  was  particularly  worthy  of  imitation,  name- 
ly, that  after  a  reproof  he  always  evinced  more  kindness 
towards  the  offending  party  than  before.  This  was  the  case 
in  his  household  as  well  as  elsewhere,  of  which  Mrs.  Fisk 
has  given  a  pleasing  illustration.  "  He  was,"  she  observes, 
"  a  faithful  pastor  in  his  own  family.  When,  at  any  time,  I 
had  erred,  he  would  convince  me  of  it,  and  manifest  so  much 
tenderness  for  me,  that  I  would  sometimes  say  to  him,  '  I 
think  you  iove  an  erring  being  better  than  a  perfect  one.' 


TRAITS  OF  CHARACTER. 


423 


(  Not  the  error,'  he  would  reply,  '  but  the  grace  that  con- 
vinced you  of  the  error.'  " 

In  the  course  of  this  autumn  (1838),  Dr.  Fisk  wrote  an 
appeal  to  the  citizens  of  Connecticut  in  behalf  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  University.  This  had  no  small  influence  in  procuring 
from  the  Legislature,  at  its  next  session,  an  appropriation 
of  ten  thousand  dollars.  But  it  is  only  justice  to  say  that 
we  are  also  greatly  indebted  for  this  enactment  to  the  exer- 
tions of  Dr.  Charles  Woodward,  of  this  city,  who  was  that 
year  a  member  of  the  Assembly. 

Dr.  Fisk  continued  to  be  the  admiration  and  delight  of  all 
his  associates  and  friends.  We  scarcely  heard  a  whisper 
to  his  disadvantage ;  or  if  any  trivial  act  appeared  doubt- 
ful, almost  all  would  blame  themselves  rather  than  him.  All 
were  sensible  of  his  superiority  :  he  alone  seemed  uncon- 
scious of  it.  His  simplicity  was  delightful.  Perfectly  nat- 
ural and  unaffected,  he  always  seemed  to  act  correctly,  and 
appeared  equally  in  his  place  in  every  situation.  Hence, 
also,  he  would  do  with  dignity  and  grace  what  inferior  men 
would  hardly  venture  upon.  He  would  interest  himself  in 
the  smallest  affairs,  where  he  saw  that  he  could  impart  corn- 
fort  or  gratification.  We  have  seen  him  stop  his  horse  in 
the  street  for  the  sake  of  placing  before  him  a  little  boy, 
whose  eyes  told  how  he  longed  for  a  ride.  He  very  often 
put  himself  to  great  inconvenience  to  meet  the  wishes  or 
wrants  of  the  domestic  circle,  frequently  performing  those  lit- 
tle offices  in  which  the  intention  dignifies  the  act,  and  the 
spirit  of  kindness  lends  it  a  moral  beauty. 

His  piety  was  deep,  and  vigorous,  and  uniform.  It  was 
not  assuming,  officious,  or  cynical ;  but  natural,  mild,  and 
cheerful.  Perhaps  it  was  not  as  diffusive  or  efficient  in  the 
social  circle  as  we  have  seen  in  some  men  of  more  forward- 
ness and  less  discretion,  but  it  was  not  the  less  apparent 
and  impressive.  His  conversation  and  sentiments  were  all 
tinged  with  religious  truth  and  Christian  principles.  His  pi- 
ety was  deeply  imbedded  in  his  soul,  and  from  it  went  out 
an  atmosphere  that  more  or  less  impregnated  all  who  came 
within  its  influence. 

The  following  simple  stanzas  are  an  indication  of  his  ha- 


424 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


bitual  regard  of  the  Divine  Being.  He  carried  them  for  at 
least  twenty  years  in  his  pocket-book.  As  they  possess 
no  great  poetic  merit,  it  must  have  been  for  the  sentiment 
alone  that  he  valued  them. 

"  OUR  FATHER  WHO  ART  IN  HEAVEN. 

"  Art  thou  my  Father  1    Then  no  more 
My  sins  shall  tempt  me  to  despair  ; 
My  Father  pities  and  forgives, 
And  hears  a  child's  repentant  prayer. 

Art  thou  my  Father  1  Let  me  strive 
With  all  my  powers  to  learn  thy  will : 

To  make  thy  service  all  my  care, 
And  all  thy  wise  commands  fulfil. 

Art  thou  my  Father  1    Teach  my  heart 

Compassion  for  another's  wo, 
And  ever  to  each  child  of  thine 

A  brother's  tenderness  to  show. 

Art  thou  my  Father  ?  Then  I  know, 
When  pain,  or  want,  or  griefs  oppress, 

They  come  but  from  a  Father's  hand, 
Which  wounds  to  heal,  afflicts  to  bless. 

Art  thou  my  Father  1  Then  in  doubt 
And  darkness,  when  I  grope  my  way, 

Thy  light  shall  shine  upon  my  path, 
And  make  my  darkness  like  the  day. 

Art  thou  my  Father  1    Then  no  more 

Tremble  my  soul  at  Death's  alarms  ; 
He  comes,  a  messenger  of  love, 

To  bear  me  to  a  Father's  arms." 

Because  it  bears  somewhat  upon  our  present  topic,  I  in- 
troduce here  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  D.  W. 
Clark,  principal  of  the  Amenia  Wesleyan  Seminary. 

"  December  20. 

*•#  #  *  #  *  *  * 

"  I  have  long  felt  that  our  graduates  were  not  doing  all 
they  ought  to  do  for  the  ministry.  They  are,  many  of  them, 
filling  stations  of  usefulness  and  honour,  but  too  few  give 
themselves  up  entirely  to  the  ministerial  work.  And  yet 
what  is  more  important  than  the  Christian  ministry  ?  Per- 
mit me,  in  this  connexion,  to  suggest  one  thought  to  you  ; 
the  thought  is  this :  If  nothing  in  the  providence  of  God 


DECLINE  OF  HEALTH. 


425 


should  foreclose  it,  may  it  not  be  your  duty,  before  many 
years,  say  after  you  have  continued  in  your  present  situation 
long  enough  to  free  yourself  from  pecuniary  embarrassment, 
to  join  Conference  ?  In  the  character  of  a  minister  of 
Christ,  you  may  do  much  for  the  cause  of  God  ;  and  if,  after 
a  few  years,  you  should  be  called  into  some  higher  Metho- 
dist seminary,  or  to  take  some  important  missionary  super- 
intendence, you  will  have  had  just  such  a  training  as  would 
best  qualify  you  for  the  place.  This  is  only  a  suggestion  for 
you  to  think  of.    I  might  enlarge  upon  it,  but  I  forbear. 

"  We  are  in  usual  prosperity.  My  own  health  is  poor. 
My  regards  to  your  lady,  although  I  have  not  the  pleasure 
of  an  acquaintance,  and  also  to  your  assistant  teachers. 
With  sincere  desire  for  your  usefulness  in  whatever  station 
you  may  be  called  to  act  in  the  Church  of  God, 

"  Affectionately  yours,  W.  Fisk." 

Dr.  Fisk,  while  in  Europe,  after  his  attack  at  Pisa,  was 
troubled  with  a  "  peculiar  numbness  and  dull  sensation  of 
pain"  in  his  lower  extremities,  "which,"  he  observes,  "  was 
not  a  little  embarrassing  in  my  subsequent  sight-seeing."  Du- 
ring the  present  year  (1838),  this  affection  returned  with  great- 
er violence,  and  was  attended  with  swelling  and  stiffness  of 
the  knee.  Yet  the  cause  not  being  fully  understood,  he  did 
not  think  it  portended  anything  fatal.  He  continued  the  most 
of  his  engagements,  was  always  cheerful  and  ready  to  per- 
form his  various  duties.  As  winter  drew  near,  and  the  stiff- 
ness and  pain  increased,  he  confined  himself  for  some  time 
to  the  house,  called  a  medical  consultation,  and  used  some 
local  applications.  But  he  could  not  be  entirely  idle.  His 
pen  was  often  used ;  his  mind  was  much  occupied  in  study- 
ing the  present  aspects  of  intellectual  science  in  Europe.  He 
even  meditated  the  preparation  of  a  work  on  Mental  and 
Moral  Philosophy,  and  another  on  the  Philosophy  of  Theolo- 
gy, and,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  sketch  a  plan  of  these 
works,  which  filled  several  sheets  of  paper.  When  it  was 
suggested  to  him  that  the  study  of  metaphysics  might  cool 
the  fervour  of  his  preaching,  he  replied,  "  Perhaps,  then,  it 
is  all  right  that  I  have  not  time  ;  for  the  heart  needs  reform- 
36*  H  h  h 


426 


LIFE   OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ing  as  much  as  the  head  needs  instructing,  and  they  ought 
not  to  be  separated." 

Tired  at  length  of  confinement,  he  again  ventured  into 
the  pulpit,  and  preached  two  or  three  touching  sermons 
in  his  chair.  He  also  went  to  New- York,  by  request  of 
the  Missionary  Board,  on  business  relating  to  the  Oregon 
Mission.  While  in  the  city,  he  attended  the  missionary 
meeting  at  Greene-street,  at  which  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John 
Seys,  William  Stocker,  and  George  Brown,  with  Messrs. 
Jabez  A.  Burton,  recently  deceased,  Walter  P.  Jayne,  and 
J.  P.  Barker,  took  their  farewell  of  their  friends  previ- 
ously to  their  departure  for  Liberia.  Though  not  expect- 
ing to  speak,  yet  being  called  on,  Dr.  Fisk  arose,  and  deliv- 
ered one  of  his  most  splendid  and  stirring  appeals.  For  vi- 
vacity and  power,  it  equalled,  if  it  did  not  exceed,  any  former 
effort.  It  completely  thrilled  his  audience,  and  drew  tears, 
says  an  eyewitness,  from  "  eyes  unused  to  weep."  He  was 
then  so  feeble  that  he  had  to  sustain  himself  with  his  cane, 
to  which  he  alluded  very  affectingly  in  the  course  of  his 
address. 

On  the  last  night  of  the  year,  Dr.  Fisk  attended  the  Watch- 
night  in  the  Methodist  Church  in  Middletown,  and  preached 
the  first  sermon.  His  text  was  taken  from  the  address  of 
the  patriarch  Jacob  to  Pharaoh  :  "  Few  and  evil  have  the 
days  of  the  years  of  my  life  been,  and  have  not  attained  unto 
the  days  of  the  years  of  the  life  of  my  fathers,  in  the  days 
of  their  pilgrimage."  It  was  touching  to  see  him  upon  his 
elevated  seat,  for  he  was  obliged  to  preach  in  a  sitting  pos- 
ture, discoursing  of  life,  death,  and  immortality.  Many  of 
his  thoughts  and  illustrations  were  striking  and  beautiful. 
He  compared  man,  in  the  current  of  life,  to  a  vessel  in  a 
whirlpool,  borne  round  and  round  by  the  eddying  current, 
offering  feeble  resistance,  until  it  reached  the  vortex  and  dis- 
appeared. There  was  a  remarkable  appropriateness  in  the 
subject,  which  would  have  made  it  still  more  affecting  had 
the  event  which  soon  followed  been  foreseen.  But,  though 
some  feared  that  it  might  not  be  far  distant,  neither  Dr.  Fisk 
nor  his  friends  expected  it  so  soon.  Next  day  he  felt  suffi- 
ciently well  to  spend  the  whole  of  it  in  making  calls  in  his 
chaise  on  such  of  his  friends  as  his  pressure  of  duties  had 


CONTINUES  HIS  LABOURS. 


427 


made  him  neglect  through  the  year,  saying,  "I  must  exert 
myself  to  meet  the  calls  of  friendship,  or  I  never  shall  have 
time  to  meet  them.  My  duties  only  seem  to  increase  with 
my  years." 

After  this  he  wrote  his  letters  on  Protestant  Missions  in 
France.  He  retained  a  lively  interest  for  this  interesting 
and  mighty  nation,  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1837,  he  moved 
a  resolution  in  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Methodist  Mis- 
sionary Society  in  New- York,  recommending  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  agent  to  visit  some  of  the  principal  departments 
of  France,  and  "  convey  to  evangelical  Christians  there  our 
friendly  salutations,  and  assure  them  of  our  readiness  to  co- 
operate with  them  in  striving  to  promote  pure  and  undefiled 
religion  among  them."  It  is  believed  that  this  resolution 
was  presented  in  view  of  giving  a  special  commission  on  the 
business  proposed  to  Dr.  Olin,  then  just  on  the  point  of  em- 
barking for  the  Continent  of  Europe.  Dr.  Fisk  continued 
to  entertain  great  hopes  of  the  evangelization  of  France,  and 
thought  that,  as  American  Christians,  we  are  under  especial 
obligations  to  use  every  feasible  exertion  to  contribute  to 
that  desirable  object. 

He  also  wrote  various  important  private  letters  about  this 
time,*  and,  at  the  request  of  Dr.  Luckey,  then  editor  of  the 
Methodist  Quarterly  Eeview,  he  commenced  a  review  of  . 
Dr.  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ; 
but  he  had  only  sketched  out  a  rough  plan  of  the  article 
when  he  was  arrested  by  his  final  illness. 

Another  subject  at  this  time  awakened  deep  interest  in 
his  mind  :  I  mean  the  celebration  of  the  centenary  of  Wes- 
leyan  Methodism.  There  is  a  wisely-provided  tendency  in 
the  human  mind  to  hold  periodical  commemorations  of  im- 
portant events.  Witness  the  Jewish  festivals  and  other  cel- 
ebrations in  every  age  and  country.  So,  also,  the  ancient 
Romans  celebrated  their  Ludi  Cseculares,  or  Centennial 
Games,  when  the  herald  went  forth  inviting  the  people  to 
come  together  to  see  "  what  no  man  had  seen  before,  and 
should  never  see  again." 

*  Mrs.  Fisk  informs  us  that  there  are  on  file  725  letters  all  received  and  an- 
swered  since  their  return  from  Europe.  "  Some  of  the  answers,"  she  observes, 
"  covered  more  than  one  sheet  of  paper,  while  many  unimportant  letters  he  de- 
stroyed, and  I  doubt  not  wrote  many  which  I  had  not  the  means  of  knowing." 


428 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Into  this  project  Dr.  Fisk  entered  with  characteristic  ar- 
dour. The  origin  of  the  reformation  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, the  wonderful  man  and  his  coadjutors  who  were  instru- 
mental in  it,  and  the  astonishing  effects  that  have  followed, 
without  political  power  or  adequate  human  elements,  kin- 
dled his  imagination  and  fired  his  sensibilities.  We  insert 
the  following  from  his  pen,  annexed  by  Dr.  Bangs  to  his  an- 
nouncement of  the  project : 

"  After  the  above  was  written,"  says  Dr.  Bangs,  "  I  re- 
ceived a  communication  from  Dr.  Fisk,  in  which,  after  al- 
luding to  what  our  brethren  in  England  had  done,  he  con- 
cludes in  the  following  language  : 

"  '  Let  the  Conferences  and  the  brethren  generally  deter- 
mine that,  so  far  as  collections  and  contributions  are  con- 
cerned, nothing  of  a  local  and  a  mere  sectional  interest  shall 
be  admitted  or  thought  of.  It  is  not  a  centenary  of  Georgia 
or  Maine  Methodism — of  Methodism  in  the  Atlantic  or 
Western  States  merely — but  of  Methodism  ;  anything  less, 
therefore,  than  a  connexional  object,  is  beneath  the  great  oc- 
casion. Let  it  be  an  object  in  which  the  ivhole  Church  has 
a  common  interest.  It  pains  me  to  hear  a  whisper  of  any- 
thing short  of  this.  I  am  sure  all  brethren,  whatever  may 
be  their  territorial  position,  will,  on  reflection,  say,  "  Give  us 
a  connexional  object ;  present  a  case  in  which  we  have  a 
common  interest."  Among  our  brethren  in  England,  it  was 
an  assumed  axiom,  which  became  the  basis  of  all  their  sub- 
sequent arrangements,  that  whatever  they  did  should  be 
"  connexional."    So  it  should  be  with  us. 

"  '  Another  principle  which  we  all  ought  to  adhere  to,  if 
we  do  anything  on  this  subject,  is  to  determine  to  agree. 
"  It  was  not  enough,"  says  Dr.  Bunting,  in  speaking  of  their 
first  deliberations  about  their  plan,  "  to  agree  to  disagree. 
We  felt  that  it  was  our  bounden  duty  to  agree  to  agree" 
This  also  should  be  our  course.  It  is  true,  for  myself,  I  can 
see  nothing  so  important  as  the  purchasing  or  building  of 
Mission  premises  in  New- York.  This  is  a  common  object, 
an  important  object,  and  one  dear  to  the  breast  of  every 
Methodist.  It  is,  moreover,  what  is  specially  needed,  and 
its  necessity  will  increase  every  year.    This  also  will  be 


CENTENARY  OF  METHODISM. 


429 


monumental.  A  substantial  edifice,  plain  yet  becoming,  im- 
posing and  yet  simple,  with  suitable  apartments  for  the  lodge- 
ment of  departing  or  returning  missionaries  ;  with  rooms  for 
the  necessary  offices  ;  for  a  missionary  museum — library  ;  for 
storage  of  mission  goods,  and  for  the  residence  of  the  mis- 
sionary secretary  and  family.  Such  an  edifice,  erected  in  a 
convenient  and  public  part  of  the  City  of  New- York,  would 
be  a  worthy  memorial  of  the  centenary  of  Methodism.  It 
would  present  to  the  world  a  noble  monument  of  Methodist 
faith,  and  zeal,  and  liberality,  and  would,  at  the  same  time, 
increase  the  missionary  facilities,  and  curtail  the  annual  ex- 
penditures to  an  extent  not  readily  conceived  of  by  those 
who  are  not  personally  acquainted  with  the  practical  opera- 
tion of  this  noble  enterprise.  You,  my  dear  sir,  know  too 
well,  by  daily  experience,  the  inconveniences  of  our  present 
accommodations,  or,  rather,  almost  entire  want  of  accommo- 
dations. How  great,  then,  must  these  embarrassments  be, 
as  the  missionary  work  increases.  Give  us,  then,  I  would 
say,  as  the  fruit  of  our  centennial  celebration,  a  mission- 
house,  whose  monumental  walls  shall  proclaim  to  the  world, 
and  to  our  children's  children,  how  highly  we  prize  that 
Methodism  which,  under  God,  has  imbodied  in  the  Church 
below  more  than  a  million  of  believers,  and  has  doubtless 
been  instrumental  in  swelling  the  Church  above  by  more 
than  double  that  number  ;  a  mission-house  which,  moreover, 
shall  for  centuries  to  come,  perhaps,  be  the  centre  of  opera- 
tions for  an  enterprise  that  shall  aid  to  send  the  Gospel  all 
over  this  wide  earth.  Such  are  my  views.  Nevertheless, 
if  the  majority  of  voices  are  in  favour  of  some  other  object, 
I  will  not  object — nay,  I  will  co-operate  ;  only,  I  repeat,  let 
it  be  "  connexional,"  and  not  sectional. 

"  1  Finally,  I  would  suggest  that  our  periodicals  should 
all  take  up  the  subject,  write  upon  it,  and  stir  up  the  public 
mind  in  reference  to  it ;  that  our  experienced  brethren  and 
fathers  should  especially  take  the  lead  in  this  interesting 
movement  ;  and  that  preparations  should  everywhere  be 
made  to  celebrate  it  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  occasion  and 
the  cause. 

M  '  Such,  reverend  and  dear  sir,  are  some  of  my  crude 


430 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


thoughts  on  this  subject.  If  you  think  them  worthy  of  be- 
ing presented  to  the  public,  with  any  additional  remarks  or 
any  modifications  you  may  judge  proper,  you  are  at  liberty 
to  publish  them.  In  the  mean  time,  let  us  all  remember  that 
none  of  us  shall  live  to  see  another  centenary  of  Methodism  ; 
that  now,  therefore,  is  our  time  to  move,  if  we  ever  do  any- 
thing on  such  an  occasion.  Let  us  also  remember  that  this 
will  be  an  appropriate  time  for  reviewing  the  past ;  to  throw 
ourselves  upon  our  primitive  principles  ;  to  gird  ourselves 
for  our  great  work  in  the  coming  Methodistical  century ;  to 
call  around  the  Church  the  reminiscence  of  the  past,  with  a 
view  to  gather  motives  and  strength  for  the  great  and  sub- 
lime enterprise  of  the  future.  Let  the  entire  Methodist 
Church  at  this  point  pause,  reflect,  pray,  and  act,  and  who 
can  tell  what  an  impetus  such  a  general  celebration  may 
give  to  the  cause  we  love,  and  the  cause  that  has  blessed  and 
honoured  us  !  Let  us  also  remember  that  what  is  done  in 
this  matter  must  be  done  quickly.  The  year  1839  is  already 
commenced,  and  it  will  soon  run  out. 

"  i  Yours  in  Gospel  bonds,  W.  Fisk.'  " 

We  need  not  relate  in  this  place  the  results  of  this  project ; 
but  we  cannot  forbear  saying,  that,  had  Dr.  Fisk  lived  until 
the  25th  of  October,  1839,  how  would  his  soul  have  dilated 
amid  the  joyous  solemnities  of  that  day  !  The  prayer-meet- 
ing at  sunrise  was  peculiarly  interesting  in  its  associations. 
There  was  much  of  inspiration  in  the  thought  that,  as  the  sun 
on  that  day  gilded  the  mountain-tops  of  each  portion  of  our 
globe,  the  voice  of  devotion  went  up  to  Heaven.  From 
England  to  Nova  Scotia  and  New-Brunswick,  through  the 
United  States,  across  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  Oregon,  over 
the  gemmed  Pacific  to  India,  and  thence,  again,  across  the 
Indian  Ocean,  and  up  the  coast  of  Africa  to  Gibraltar,  and 
thence,  through  France  and  the  isles  of  Jersey  and  Guern- 
sey, back  again  to  England  ;  in  all  these  places  the  voice 
of  praise  was  heard.    Cowper's  day  had  arrived,  for 

"Mountain  tops 
From  distant  mountains  caught  the  flying  joy ; 
Till,  nation  after  nation  taught  the  strain, 
Earth  roll'd  the  rapturous  hosanna  round." 


LETTER  OF  CONDOLENCE. 


431 


But,  if  Dr.  Fisk  did  not  join  the  scene  on  earth,  no  doubt 
he  beheld  it  with  interest  from  the  higher  and  purer  regions 
where  he  dwells ;  for  what  refreshed  the  piety  and  animated 
the  faith  of  myriads  on  earth,  could  not  but  be  interesting  to 
the  redeemed  in  heaven. 

We  add  a  few  private  letters  of  this  period : 

To  Captain  Abraham  G.  Jennings,  Fairfield,  Conn. 

"  Wesleyan  University,  Jan.  26, 1839. 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  learn,  by  a  letter  from  your  brother,  the  afflicting  intel- 
ligence of  the  death  of  your  son  and  our  late  pupil.  This 
unexpected  event  has  filled  our  hearts  with  sorrow.  How 
much  more,  then,  must  it  pain  you,  whose  relation  to  him 
was  so  near,  and  whose  loss  is  so  irreparable.  My  own  share 
in  this  affliction,  although  not  small,  as  your  son  stood  in  an 
interesting  relation  to  us,  is  lost  sight  of  when  I  think  of 
your  grief  and  that  of  your  family.  Fain  would  I,  if  possi- 
ble, mitigate  that  grief;  but  what  can  I  say  ?  I  cannot  make 
up  your  loss  :  God  alone  can  do  that.  I  can,  it  is  true,  talk 
to  you  of  submission  ;  but  this  you  have  been  taught  long 
since  by  our  holy  religion.  You  know  it  is  God  that  has 
done  it,  and  thai;  he  does  all  things  right.  Here,  therefore, 
you  must  rest ;  and  while  sorrow  presses  you  down,  feel  that 
it  is  the  Lord.  Oh,  my  dear  sir,  hide  yourself  under  the 
pavilion  of  his  covert  until  these  calamities  are  overpast. 
Your  son  had  been  with  us  almost  four  years.  In  all  this 
time  he  has  been  an  obedient  and  faithful  pupil.  I  have 
this  evening  been  looking  over  the  College  records,*  and  I 
find  that,  from  the  commencement  of  his  membership  in  this 
institution,  he  has  rarely,  if  ever,  been  absent  from  any  duty, 
great  or  small,  without  rendering  a  reasonable  excuse.  His 
scholarship  was  very  respectable,  and  his  deportment  to- 
wards his  instructers  was  always  respectful. 

*  Dr.  Fisk  had  not,  for  some  time,  been  out  in  the  night  air.  Nevertheless,  on 
receiving  information  of  the  death  of  young  Mr.  Jennings,  he  went  over  to  the 
College  in  the  evening,  to  ascertain  with  accuracy  his  relative  standing  in  his 
class,  for  his  father's  satisfaction.  The  same  evening  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Jennings's 
room-mate  a  faithful  letter  on  the  importance  of  preparing  for  eternity,  observ- 
ing, "  It  must  quicken  my  diligence  in  striving  to  be  more  faithful  to  those  who 
remain." 


432 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


"  That  David  was  faithful  to  all  the  duties  of  personal 
piety,  I  could  not  say.  Like  too  many  students,  he  undoubt- 
edly suffered  his  mind  to  be  occupied  with  present  scenes, 
and  with  the  ambitious  prospects  of  life  ;  but  he  always  ap- 
peared to  treat  Divine  worship  and  serious  things  not  only 
with  respect,  but  with  an  attention  that  indicated  thought- 
fulness  and  interest  in  religious  subjects.  The  latter  part  of 
last  term  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  nursing  a  sick 
chum,  and  another  fellow-student  who  was  sick.  They  have 
recovered,  but  he  is  gone  !  How  mysterious  is  the  provi- 
dence of  God ! 

"  If  I  can  afford  you,  sir,  any  aid  in  settling  up  any  un- 
settled affairs  of  your  son  here,  it  will  afford  me  pleasure  to 
do  it. 

"  Not  knowing  whether  your  son  has  a  mother  living,  or 
what  may  be  the  other  branches  of  your  family,  I  have  only 
to  tender  you  and  all  my  kind  condolence,  and  commend 
you  to  the  mourner's  friend.  I  much  sympathize  in  your 
affliction.    I  am  yours  sincerely,  W.  Fisk." 

To  his  Parents, 

"  January  29,  1839. 

"  The  winter,  on  the  whole,  has  been  favourable  ;  at  least 
it  has  been  here,  and  I  hope  with  you.  If  so,  and  your 
house  is  comfortable,  I  trust  you  will  get  comfortably 
through  the  winter ;  at  any  rate,  I  hope  your  minds  are  re- 
posing with  confidence  on  an  Almighty  arm,  and  that  your 
faith  penetrates  to  that  world,  where 

'  Chilling  winds  and  poisonous  breath 
**•*■*•** 

Are  felt  and  feared  no  more.' 
Much,  indeed,  have  you  to  comfort  you.  I  would  not,  it  is 
true,  direct  your  attention  to  any  other  support  or  ground  of 
hope  than  to  Christ,  the  sinner's  friend ;  for,  after  all,  the 
best  of  us  are  sinners  saved  by  grace.  But  it  is  some  comfort 
to  me,  if  not  to  you,  that  you  have  for  many  years  '  fought 
the  good  fight  of  faith ;'  that,  like  Samuel  of  old,  you  can 
say  to  the  people,  '  Whose  ox  or  ass  have  I  taken  V  that 
your  house  has  been  the  home  of  the  stranger,  and  the  rest- 
ing-place of  the  Christian  pilgrim ;  that  the  humble  and  the 


LETTER  TO  HIS  PARENTS.  OREGON  MISSION.  433 

oppressed,  who  have  come  to  you  for  counsel  and  succour, 
have  not  been  sent  sorrowful  away ;  that  your  house  has 
been  a  house  of  prayer,  and  that  at  the  domestic  altar  your 
children  have  been  taught  the  principles  of  that  devotion 
which  has  been  the  comfort  of  their  lives.  That  God  whom 
you  have  so  long  served,  and  taught  your  family  to  serve, 
will  not  forsake  you  in  your  old  age.  Surely  the  evening  of 
your  life  should  be  joyous,  for  the  day  of  a  joyous  eternity  is 
just  beyond.  Of  my  own  health  I  have  little  good  to  say, 
save  to  repeat  the  blessed  promise,  '  All  things  shall  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  God.'  I  have  been  con- 
fined partially  for  a  great  portion  of  the  winter.  My  lame- 
ness continues,  though  not  so  bad  as  it  was  at  one  time,  and, 
in  addition,  I  have  lately  had  a  new  symptom  on  my  lungs : 
a  shortness  of  breath,  and  difficulty  of  breathing,  which  has 
greatly  disturbed  my  rest  at  night.  It  seems  something  like 
the  spasmodic  asthma.  The  rest  of  our  family  are  much  as 
usual." 

One  other  subject  must  not  be  overlooked.  Dr.  Fisk 
watched  with  great  solicitude  the  progress  and  indications 
of  the  Oregon  Mission.  He  received  various  communica- 
tions from  the  missionaries  while  on  their  route  and  after 
their  arrival,  but  there  was  nothing  in  the  letters  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  find  a  place  in  these  memoirs.  They 
found  the  representations  made  to  them  fully  justified.  The 
natives  were  mild,  comparatively  moral,  and  accessible  to 
Christian  instruction ;  but,  in  the  far-off  wilderness,  the  mis- 
sionaries were  compelled  to  spend  so  much  time  in  procu- 
ring subsistence,  that  they  could  not  pay  the  desired  atten- 
tion to  their  spiritual  objects.  Some  progress,  however,  was 
made.  The  Reverend  Jason  Lee,  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  Governor  M'Laughlin  and  others,  conducted  the 
affairs  of  the  mission  very  judiciously,  and  gained  an  exten- 
sive influence  in  the  territory,  which  promised  well  for  the 
success  of  the  undertaking.  The  mission  family  was  estab- 
lished at  Willamette.  They  had  received  considerable  re- 
enforcements  in  1837,  consisting  of  a  physician,  carpenter, 
blacksmith,  two  clergymen  (Messrs.  Leslie  and  Perkins), 
37  1 1 1 


434 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


with  several  ladies.  These  were  busily  engaged  in  their 
respective  spheres,  in  laying  the  foundation  and  preparing 
the  way  for  future  operations.  They  had  a  prosperous 
school  of  about  thirty  children,  and  spent  all  the  time  they 
could  in  preaching  to  and  otherwise  instructing  the  natives. 
Meantime,  Messrs.  Perkins  and  Daniel  Lee  formed  another 
station,  about  one  hundred  miles  farther  up  the  Columbia 
River,  near  the  Great  Falls,  usually  called  the  Dalles,  where 
they  found  a  people  prepared  to  receive  the  Gospel.  It  was 
here  that  the  astonishing  work  broke  out  in  1839,  whereby 
more  than  five  hundred  souls  were  made  subjects  of  saving 
grace,  as  related  in  the  tract  since  issued  at  the  Book  Room. 

Affairs  wearing  this  favourable  aspect,  the  Reverend  Ja- 
son Lee  resolved  on  a  visit  to  the  United  States,  with  a  view 
to  excite  still  greater  interest  in  the  mission,  and  to  pro- 
cure additional  supplies.  He  brought  with  him  five  native 
boys,  of  whom  three  were  to  be  left  in  the  states  to  be  liber- 
ally educated,  and  the  other  two  were  to  return.  But,  alas  ! 
one  of  these,  William  Brooks,  saw  his  home  no  more.  Dr. 
Fisk  was  greatly  interested  in  this  company,  and  they  not 
less  so  in  him,  regarding  him  as  their  parent  and  benefactor. 
Three  weeks  before  Dr.  Fisk's  decease,  Mr.  Lee  visited 
Middletown  to  confer  with  him  on  the  interests  of  the  mis- 
sion, and  while  here  held  a  public  meeting  in  reference  to  it. 
On  the  afternoon  preceding  the  meeting,  which  was  held  in 
the  evening,  they  were  several  hours  in  consultation  upon 
the  subject,  the  result  of  which  was,  that  Dr.  Fisk  sketched  a 
plan  for  the  employment  and  location  of  about  thirty  addi- 
tional labourers  in  that  field.  This  paper,  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, is  now  before  me.  The  re-enforcement  sailed  from 
New- York  the  following  September. 

In  the  evening  Dr.  Fisk  attended  the  meeting,  which  was 
held  in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  took  part  in  the  exercises.  . 
It  was  his  last  appearance  in  an  earthly  sanctuary.    Thus  1 
his  final  labours  in  public  were  in  behalf  of  the  Oregon 
Mission. 


RAPID  DECLINE  OF  HEALTH. 


435 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Rapid  decline  of  Health. — Last  Sickness. — Scenes  in  his  Chamber. — Death. — 

Conclusion. 

As  we  now  approach  the  close  of  our  subject's  life,  we 
are  inclined  to  linger  over  our  task,  that  we  may  prolong  the 
contemplation  of  the  scene  which  it  presents  to  view.  We 
love  to  stand  in  the  evening  amid  the  varied  landscape,  as 
the  sun  retires  from  our  gaze,  to  watch  the  mellowing  tints 
of  light  and  shade  which  spread  over  the  face  of  nature. 
But  how  much  more  interesting  is  it  to  watch  the  departure 
from  its  mortal  sphere  of  some  "bright  particular  star"  of 
our  moral  firmament ! 

We  have  traced  the  progress  of  our  subject's  life  from 

his  childhood,  and  have  seen  the  gradual  development  of 

his  mental  and  moral  powers,  and  the  influence  he  exerted 

on  the  world.    The  little  boy  that  climbed  the  snow-clad 

hills  of  Vermont  on  his  way  to  the  district  school,  has  arisen 

before  our  eyes  into  the  man,  exerted  a  powerful  influence 

on  society,  spread  his  name  to  distant  regions,  and  become 

"  A  kingly  ruler  in  the  realms  of  mind." 

But  his  labours  are  now  over,  and  there  remains  but  a  few 

more  days  of  suffering  and  triumph  to  him — of  instruction 

and  sympathy  to  his  friends.    These  days  are  bright  with 

no  mortal  radiance.    In  Dr.  Fisk's  closing  hours  we  have  a 

striking  illustration  of  the  saying  of  an  ancient  philosopher, 

that  "  the  pure  soul  leaves  the  body  as  the  lightning  flits  from 

the  cloud,"  shining  brightest  at  the  time  of  its  departure. 

"  The  body  yields  to  death's  all  powerful  summons, 
While  the  bright  image  of  eternity 
Survives." 

Nothing  more  clearly  shows  the  adaptation  of  Christianity 
to  the  wants  and  aspirations  of  the  human  spirit,  than  the 
tranquillity  with  which  it  inspires  its  sincere  votary  in  his 
closing  hours.  It  satisfies  the  most  distressing  doubts  ;  it 
throws  light  upon  the  darkness  of  the  future ;  it  gives  the 


436 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


soul  a  sure  foundation  on  which  to  construct  its  hopes  of 
immortality.  The  soul  that  assuredly  relies  on  the  atone- 
ment of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  has  a  life-buoy  to  bear  it  up 
amid  Death's  dark  billows.  This  is  more  than  can  be  said 
of  the  proudest  systems  of  human  philosophy.  The  dying 
language  of  the  greatest  of  the  heathens,  the  immortal  Sta- 
girite,  is  well  known  to  every  scholar  :  "  Fade  hunc  mun- 
dum  intravi,  anxius  vixi,  perturbalus  egredior,  causa  causa- 
rum  miserere  mei."  Meanly  he  had  entered  the  world,  anx- 
iously he  had  lived,  in  disquietude  he  was  departing.  Piti- 
ful result  of  this  world's  boastful  philosophy  !  Far  different 
is  the  spirit  of  that  faith  which  says,  "  To  die  is  gain." 
"  Thanks  be  unto  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !" 

We  have  already  seen  how  much  Dr.  Fisk's  health  decli- 
ned during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1838.  His  limbs  contin- 
ued to  swell,  his  expectoration  was  somewhat  diminished, 
and  his  breathing  became  more  difficult.  These  symptoms 
gradually  advanced.  On  the  13th  of  January  he  preached 
his  last  sermon,  and  on  the  14th  he  was  employed  nearly 
the  whole  day  in  sketching  the  plan  of  a  new  boarding  hall 
for  the  University.  That  night  he  was  dreadfully  distressed 
with  obstructed  respiration,  so  that  from  two  o'clock  until 
five  in  the  morning  he  was  obliged  to  sit  up  in  his  chair. 
These  turns  came  on  subsequently  every  night,  regularly  in- 
creasing in  severity ;  yet  during  the  day,  in  pleasant  weath- 
er, he  was  able  to  ride  or  walk  out.  The  last  occasion  of 
his  riding  out  was  to  visit  a  graduate  of  the  University,  who 
was  lying  ill  two  or  three  miles  distant.  It  was  not  until 
the  31st  of  January  that  he  confined  himself  to  his  room  ; 
and  even  then  he  retained  strength  to  attend  to  business  un- 
til the  5th  of  February,  when,  in  the  evening,  with  Mrs. 
Fisk's  assistance,  he  sealed  thirty  letters,  written  for  the 
benefit  of  the  institution. 

But  he  was  now  evidently  and  rapidly  sinking,  so  that,  on 
the  8th  of  February,  a  medical  consultation  was  held  upon 
his  case.  The  decision  was  unfavourable  to  any  prospect 
of  his  recovery  or  of  his  long  continuance.  On  learning  the 
result,  Professor  Johnston,  who  was  with  him  soon  after, 


HIS  FINAL  SICKNESS. 


437 


says  "  that  it  surprised  him,  yet  he  was  perfectly  calm,  and 
began  to  arrange  his  affairs  as  though  he  was  preparing  for 
a  pleasant  journey."  Then,  after  making  some  disposition 
of  his  papers  with  Professor  Smith,  his  executor,  he  was  as- 
sisted to  his  chair,  in  order  to  rest  from  the  fatigue  which 
his  exertions  had  occasioned.  Soon  after  being  seated,  he 
remarked  in  a  whisper,  for  he  was  too  weak  to  converse 
aloud,  "  What  are  all  these  things  compared  with  the  wel- 
fare of  an  immortal  soul !"  On  being  asked  how  the  pros- 
pect of  death  now  appeared  to  him,  he  immediately  replied, 
"  Death  has  no  terrors  to  me  ;  but  I  have  not  that  open  vis- 
ion of  Heaven  I  could  desire.  Pray  for  me,  that  the  pros- 
pect before  me  may  brighten.  I  feel  that  my  life  has  been  a 
series  of  imperfections,  and  there  is  nothing  that  I  can  rest 
my  hopes  upon  but  the  merits  of  Christ."  Soon  after,  he 
added,  "  There  are  a  few  things  I  would  like  to  see  done 
before  taken  from  this  world ;  but  what  am  I,  that  I  should 
have  a  hand  in  those  things  ?"  and,  after  another  pause,  he 
proceeded,  "  There  is  the  poor  University  ;  but  I  hope  you 
(meaning  the  professors)  will  stand  by  it,  and  that  God  will 
bless  it." 

The  scene,  or,  rather,  succession  of  scenes  which  took  place 
after  this  in  his  dying  chamber  were  in  the  highest  degree 
instructive  and  elevating.  It  was  almost  an  uninterrupted 
exhibition  of  moral  sublimity.  Many  received  lessons  of 
wisdom  and  piety  there  which  they  will  never  forget.  To 
these  a  gentleman  alluded  who  was  in  Paris  in  1841,  at  the 
re-interment  of  the  bones  of  Napoleon,  who,  after  descri- 
bing that  gorgeous  but  heartless  pageantry,  observes,  "  As  I 
looked  upon  the  coffin,  I  could  not  feel  veneration  for  Na- 
poleon ;  the  halo  of  true  glory  shone  not  around  it.  The 
chamber  where  I  saw  that  good  man,  the  late  Dr.  Willbur 
Fisk,  calmly  and  triumphantly  meeting  his  fate,  was  to  me 
a  scene  of  infinitely  higher  and  more  enviable  glory."  We 
may  be  allowed,  under  such  circumstances,  to  enter  some- 
what fully  into  the  particulars. 

To  conceive  properly  of  the  situation  of  our  sufferer,  it 
ought  to  be  understood,  that  such  was  his  difficulty  of  breath- 
ing that  he  was  obliged  to  keep  his  chest  as  nearly  as  possi- 
37* 


438 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


ble  in  an  erect  posture.  Though  it  was  winter,  but  little  fire 
could  be  kept  in  the  room  ;  the  door  was  always  partly  open, 
and  then  he  required  almost  constant  fanning  to  aid  his 
respiration.  As  he  could  not  lay  down  more  than  one  hour 
in  twenty-four,  the  pain  and  weariness  he  endured  were  in- 
describable. Though  his  breathing  was  at  all  times  labo- 
rious, he  had  frequent  paroxysms  of  extreme  violence,  du- 
ring which  it  appeared  as  though  each  breath  would  be  his 
last.  At  these  seasons  he  could  only  gasp  out  a  word  or  a 
syllable  at  a  time.  Much  of  what  we  shall  record  was  ut- 
tered in  that  manner. 

As  we  were  from  home  during  the  earlier  part  of  his  ill- 
ness, we  rely  on  accounts  furnished  us  by  Mrs.  Fisk,  and 
several  friends  who  took  notes  at  the  time  ;  and,  as  his  ob- 
servations were  dispersed  throughout  the  last  fourteen  days 
of  his  illness,  on  a  variety  of  topics,  we  have  thought  that, 
instead  of  following  the  order  of  time,  it  would  be  more 
agreeable  to  the  reader,  and  make  a  more  distinct  impres- 
sion on  the  mind,  to  have  them  arranged  according  to  sub- 
jects. We  do  not,  however,  profess  to  insert  all  that  was 
said  at  this  mournfully  interesting  period  ;  we  select  such 
passages  as  were  thought  most  remarkable,  and  especially 
illustrative  of  their  author's  character. 

The  reader  will  be  struck  with  several  peculiarities  in  these 
observations.  He  will  see  at  every  turn  our  subject's  dis- 
tinctive characteristics,  his  prevailing  sentiments,  feelings, 
and  interests.  He  will  not  only  observe  the  hallowing  in- 
fluence and  out-beaming  radiance  of  his  piety,  but  his  pe- 
culiar humility,  calmness,  patience,  consideration.  Nothing 
seemed  to  be  forgotten  by  him  in  which  he  had  before  felt  a 
concern ;  especially  the  interests  of  religion,  education,  his 
family  and  friends,  were  all  very  nigh  his  heart,  and  were 
thought  of  and  cared  for  in  the  midst  of  his  deepest  agonies. 
It  was  a  frequent  expression  of  those  around  him,  "  Dr. 
Fisk  is  himself  to  the  very  last !"    Surely  those  who  had  the 

privilege  of  being  in 

"  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  met  his  fate," 

will  never  lose  the  salutary  lessons  there  imbibed. 

And,  first,  of  his  lowly  views  of  himself  and  of  his  own 


HUMILITY.  FAITH  IN  CHRIST.  439 

labours,  we  have  clear  and  strong  testimony.  Thus  at  one 
time  he  said, 

"  When  I  look  back,  I  wonder  at  the  little  I  have  done. 
And  what  is  rest  to  me"  (he  had  just  been  speaking  of  rest 
in  Heaven),  "  that  I  should  indulge  anticipations  of  it,  while 
there  are  so  many  unconverted  in  the  world,  going  down  to 
eternal  wo  ?  I  see  much  to  be  done  ;  but  any  active  mind 
can  do  it :  and  the  work  of  God  is  in  his  own  hands.  He 
can  do  without  me.  What  am  I,  or  my  father's  house,  that 
God  should  have  honoured  me  to  share  in  the  ministry  of 
the  Gospel  ?  I  bless  Him  that  He  has  made  me  the  humble 
instrument  of  doing  anything — the  least  thing — for  Him.  It 
is  all  of  grace.  Boasting  is  excluded.  The  glory  is  all  his, 
the  shame  all  mine.  I  want  a  score  of  years  more  to  do 
anything  like  what  a  man  ought  to  do  in  the  course  of  his 
life." 

And  again  :  "  O,  how  little  have  I  done  !  O,  the  many 
deficiencies !  I  feel  constrained  to  ask  forgiveness  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  world."  *  *  "I  shall  be  a  star  of  small 
magnitude,  but  it  is  a  wonder  that  I  shall  get  to  Heaven  at 
all.  It  is  because  love  works  miracles  that  such  a  feeble, 
sinful  worm  may  be  saved  by  grace.  O,  the  mercy  of  God, 
to  put  such  comeliness  on  such  a  worm  as  I !  I  am  an  un- 
profitable servant.  How  little  have  I  done  of  what  I  might 
have  done !" 

When  one  remarked  to  him  that  he  "  knew  of  no  one  in 
whose  life  there  were  fewer  things  to  regret,"  he  replied, 
"  I  do  not  feel  so  at  all.  I  feel  full  of  imperfections  and 
frailties." 

Thus,  "  having  no  confidence  in  the  flesh,"  all  his  hope 

OF    SALVATION    RESTED    ON   THE    ATONEMENT    OF    THE  LaMB. 

"  What  a  blessed  state  to  be  in,"  he  observed,  "to  be  any- 
thing God  pleases.  The  will  of  God  appears  unspeakably 
beautiful  to  me ;  but,  alas !  I  fail  of  fulfilling  it  in  a  great 
many  ways.  But,  for  all  this,  I  have  thrown  myself  on  the 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  O,  yes !  I  feel  that  my  soul 
is  centred  in  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  Thus,  again, 
M  If  I  have  been  instrumental  in  a  little  good,  I  thank  God 
for  it.    I  am  an  unprofitable  servant.    All  my  hope  is  in 


410 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


Christ."  At  another  time,  apparently  at  the  close  of  some 
train  of  silent  thought,  he  said,  "  Rights  ?  I  have  no  rights, 
but  my  Saviour  has  rights  ;  and  he  bestows  them  on  me.  It 
is  all  of  grace." 

Once  only  did  he  experience  any  peculiar  temptation  or 
mental  conflict.  In  the  early  part  of  his  illness,  he  re- 
marked that  "  the  enemy  was  thrusting  sore"  at  him,  and 
immediately  said  to  the  Rev.  Horace  Bartlett,  "  If  you  have 
any  faith,  pray."  When  the  prayer  was  closed,  he  express- 
ed his  deliverance  from  the  gathering  cloud,  and  from  that 
time  nothing  seemed  to  obstruct  his  view  of  his  Saviour  and 
the  better  world. 

His  faith  in  the  truths  of  Christianity  never  wavered. 
When  asked  if  he  still  believed  the  doctrines  which  he  had 
preached  to  others,  he  replied,  with  emphasis,  "  Yes  ;  they 
are  God's  truths,  and  will  bear  the  light  of  eternity." 

He  always  entertained  lofty  views  of  the  nature  and 

HOLY  PRIVILEGES  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY.     Thus,  when  the 

Rev.  Messrs.  Granger  and  Tyler,  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  called  to  see  him,  "  he  immediately,"  says  the  for- 
mer, "  began  to  converse  about  the  solemn  responsibilities 
of  the  ministry,"  observing,  "  I  hope  you  will  give  the  trump- 
et a  more  certain  sound  than  I  have  ever  done."  On  Mr. 
G,'s  saying  to  him,  u  Our  ;  Lord  had  need  of  him'  in  the  high- 
er employments  of  Heaven,"  he  replied,  "  It  may  be  :  I 
have  often  thought,  too,  that  the  occupation  in  Heaven  would 
be  to  do  God's  will  and  promote  his  glory.  When  I  sur- 
rendered myself  to  the  cause  of  God,  it  was  a  full  surrender 
to  do  his  will,  anywhere  and  anyhow,  as  he  would  please  : 
and  perhaps  I  may  be  employed  in  some  way  to  advance 
the  cause  of  redemption  on  earth." 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cookson,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  he  said, 
i1  I  am  leaving  the  walls,  but  I  leave  you  on  them.  God 
bless  you,  and  make  you  more  faithful  in  sounding  the  Gos- 
pel trumpet  than  I  have  been.  O,  the  responsibilities  of  a 
minister  !  O,  may  not  the  blood  of  souls  be  found  in  our 
skirts!" 

Mr.  Cookson  inquired  if  he  felt  the  expression  of  the  ven- 
erable Wesley,  "  The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us."    "  O 


christian's  triumph  in  death. 


441 


yes,"  he  replied,  "  nature  indeed  is  yielding,  but  God  re- 
mains." 

He  was  always  remarkably  fond  of  singing,  and  often  re- 
quested that  some  of  his  favourite  hymns  might  be  sung. 
Among  these  was  the  one  in  the  Methodist  Collection,  com- 
mencing, 

"  Jesus,  the  name  high  over  all," 

of  the  last  stanza  of  which, 

"  Happy  if  with  my  latest  breath 
I  may  but  gasp  his  name, 
Preach  him  to  all,  and  cry  in  death, 
Behold,  behold  the  Lamb  !" 

he  was  particularly  fond,  requesting  that  it  might  be  sung 

more  than  once.    And  when,  at  his  request,  Dr.  Watts's 

hymn  was  sung,  commencing, 

"  Lord,  in  thy  temple  we  appear," 

he  repeated  the  last  stanzas  distinctly  in  a  whisper,  thus : 

" '  Jesus,  the  vision  of  thy  face 
Hath  overpowering  charms ; 
Scarce  shall  I  feel  Death's  cold  embrace, 
If  thou  be  in  my  arms. 

And  while  you  hear  my  heartstrings  break, 

How  sweet  my  moments  roll ; 
A  mortal  paleness  on  my  cheek, 

But  glory  in  my  soul.'  " 

Sunday,  the  10th  of  February,  was  a  day  of  uncommon  in- 
terest and  solemnity.  There  was  not  the  least  prospect  of 
his  recovery,  so  that  it  was  not  thought  necessary  to  restrain 
him  from  conversing  ;  and  yet  his  strength  was  not  so  far 
exhausted  as  to  prevent  the  free  play  of  his  mind  and  feel- 
ings. The  scene  in  his  chamber  was  transcendently  eleva- 
ting. In  the  morning  he  asked  Mrs.  Fisk  what  day  it  was. 
On  ascertaining,  he  observed,  M  This  would  be  a  good  day 
to  die."  "  Perhaps,"  said  Mrs.  Fisk,  "  the  Lord  will  take 
you  to  his  rest  this  day."  "  Then  I  can  worship,"  was  his 
answer,  "  with  the  Sabbath-keeping  band  in  Heaven  ;  but  I 
cannot  here."  On  being  told  that  he  always  loved  the  Sab- 
bath, "Yes,"  he  replied  ;  "  and  though  it  was  a  day  of  toil  to 
me,  yet  I  loved  my  work.    To  me  the  Sabbath  has  been  an 

K  K  K 


442 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


emblem  of  that  promised  rest.  Oh,  that  rest  is  sweet !  It 
is  glorious  !" 

He  then  beckoned  Martha  to  him,  saying,  "  Let  us  pray- 
together  ;"  and,  throwing  an  arm  round  each  of  them  as  they 
knelt  before  him,  he  offered  up  a  prayer,  gasping  it  out 
word  by  word,  which  seemed  the  very  language  of  the  spir- 
itual world.  It  was  deep,  pathetic,  powerful,  sublime. 
Then,  as  they  arose  from  their  knees,  he  said,  "  Vain  human 
reasoners  often  tell  us  that  the  soul  and  the  body  will  go 
down  together  to  the  dust,  because  the  spirit  is  depressed 
when  the  body  is ;  but  it  is  not  true.  These  clogs  of  earth 
have  often  retarded  the  operations  of  my  mind,  and  been  as 
so  many  barriers  to  its  activity.  But  I  now  feel  a  strength 
of  soul  and  an  energy  of  mind  which  this  body,  though 
afflicted  and  pained,  cannot  impair. 

"  The  soul  has  an  energy  of  its  own ;  and  so  far  from  my 
body  pressing  my  soul  down  to  the  dust,  I  feel  as  if  my  soul 
had  almost  power  to  raise  the  body  upward  and  bear  it 
away ;  and  it  will  at  last,  by  the  power  of  God,  effectually 
draw  it  to  Heaven,  for  its  attractions  are  thitherward."  Then, 
turning  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  he  said,  "  Think  not,  when  you  see 
this  poor  feeble  body  stretched  in  death,  that  that  is  your 
husband.  O  no  !  your  husband  will  have  escaped  free  and 
liberated  from  every  clog  !  He  will  have  new-plumed  his 
glad  wings,  and  soared  away  through  the  ethereal  regions 
to  that  celestial  city  of  light  and  love  !  What !  talk  of  bury- 
ing your  husband !  No,  never.  Your  husband  cannot  be 
buried  !  he  will  be  in  Heaven.  His  body  may  be ;  and  let 
it  go,  and  mingle  with  its  mother  earth :  why  should  you 
lament  ?  And  yet  I  love  this  body,  notwithstanding  it  has 
so  often  been  a  hinderance  to  the  aspirations  of  my  mind  ;  for 
it  has  been  an  old  companion  of  mine.  It  has  cost  me  much 
care  and  pain,  its  tendency  being  continually  to  decay;  and 
though  it  may  lie  long  in  the  grave,  it  shall  be  raised,  and  I 
shall  see  it  again  ;  for  I  hope  to  be  united  with  it,  but  with 
none  of  its  infirmities,  with  none  of  its  moral  deformities. 
Yes,  every  particle  of  this  dust  shall  be  raised  and  changed, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  on  the  morning  of  the  resurrec- 
tion. '  Then  it  will  be  freed  from  all  its  infirmities.    It  will 


COMMUNICATIONS  WITH  HIS  FAMILY* 


443 


have  no  lame  limbs,  no  weak  lungs.  It  will  be  refined  from 
all  its  gross  particles.  It  will  be  buoyant  and  ethereal,  glo- 
rious and  immortal !  It  will  be  perfect,  for  it  will  be  fash- 
ioned like  unto  Christ's  most  glorious  body,  and  united  with 
the  soul  forever  !" 

The  above  sublime  sentiments  were  uttered  with  the  great- 
est difficulty,  when  almost  every  moment  it  appeared  as 
though  the  power  of  respiration  must  cease. 

His  last  communications  with  his  family  were  in  keeping 
with  his  character.  Perceiving  Mrs.  Fisk's  overwhelming 
grief,  on  ascertaining  the  decision  of  the  physicians  in  his 
case,  "  My  dear  wife,"  he  said,  "  I  have  always  loved  you ; 
I  have  loved  to  love  you  ;  and  you  were  never  dearer  to  me 
than  at  this  moment.  But  do  not  distress  my  dying  moments 
with  your  grief.  This  ought  not  so  to  be.  I  have  a.  great 
work  to  do :  you  must  help  me  by  your  prayers.  I  have 
always  thought  I  should  outlive  you,  and  have  always  pray- 
ed that  this  cup  might  never  be  yours  ;  that  it  might  be  re- 
served for  me  ;  for  I  know  how  unable  you  are  to  bear  it. 
But  God  seems  determining  otherwise.  Bear  it  ?  You  can- 
not bear  it !  But  God  will  help  you  ;  for  he  has  promised 
to  be  the  widow's  God  and  husband,  and  he  will  not  fail  !" 
At  this  time  also,  beckoning  Mrs.  Fisk's  mother  and  Martha 
to  him,  he  offered  up,  as  they  knelt  around  him,  a  prayer 
most  touching  and  beautiful.  A  competent  judge  who  was 
present  remarked  that,  if  Dr.  Fisk  had  been  in  his  study,  in 
his  most  favoured  moments,  he  could  scarcely  have  written 
one  more  appropriate  and  eloquent. 

At  a  later  period  of  his  illness,  on  Mrs.  Fisk  expressing 
her  grief,  he  said,  "  I  fear  you  do  not  give  me  up.  O,  give 
me  up  to  God.  Our  tie  will  not  be  sundered  ;  it  will  only 
be  strengthened  by  a  purer  hope.  God  will  be  your  hus- 
band :  rely  on  him  in  simple  faith,  and  all  shall  be  well." 

At  another  time  he  said,  "  Our  parting  will  not  be  long. 
Time  seems  to  me  like  a  mere  point.  Eternity  swallows  up 
all,"  #  #  #  u  Imagination's  utmost  stretch  cannot  measure 
eternity.  Oh,  my  dear,  build  your  hopes  on  nothing  but  Je- 
sus, and  him  crucified  !  The  doctrines  of  the  cross  only 
have  efficacy  to  raise  you  to  Heaven,  where  I  trust  we  shall 


444 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


soon  meet.  Oh,  then  shall  we  be  in  possession  of  those 
beauties  which  charm  the  angels,  and  bind  them  to  the  throne 
of  God." 

He  felt  great  concern  at  the  dependant  condition  in  which 
his  wife  and  adopted  daughter  would  be  left.  Having  al- 
ways had  an  impression  that  he  should  outlive  Mrs.  Fisk, 
whose  health  was  but  feeble,  he  had  made  for  her  but  a  slen- 
der provision.  Hence,  in  an  early  part  of  his  illness,  when  he 
had  signed  his  will,  after  a  short  pause,  he  said  to  Mrs.  Fisk, 
"  There  will  be  but  little,  nor  can  you  expect  much  from  the 
New-England  Conference."*  Dr.  Miner,  his  attendant  phy- 
sician, as  if  to  relieve  him  of  his  anxiety,  said,  "  The  public 
will  expect  a  memoir.  It  may  be  written  for  Mrs.  Fisk's 
benefit."  He  replied,  "  Nothing  can  be  said  of  me."  "  The 
public  will  expect  it ;  will  you  please  to  name  your  biogra- 
pher ?"  After  a  pause,  he  replied,  "  Possibly ;  then  it  is  my 
request  that  Professor  Holdich  should  write  it  for  Mrs. 
Fisk's  benefit,  if  sufficient  papers  can  be  found  to  justify  it." 
Turning  to  Mrs.  F.,  he  added,  H  You  will  furnish  what  you 
have."    He  had  previously  made  the  same  nomination. 

A  striking  evidence  of  his  affectionate  and  tender  spirit 
was  given  in  the  early  part  of  his  illness,  but  when  he  was 
supposed  to  be  very  near  his  end.  Recollecting  that  he  had 
not  written  Mrs.  Fisk's  name  in  a  book  which  he  had  re- 
cently given  her,  he  called  for  it,  and  in  his  chair,  with  the 
book  on  his  knee,  with  a  trembling  hand  he  wrote,  "  From 
her  affectionate  and  dying  husband  to  Mrs.  Fisk. — W.  Fisk." 

The  Wesleyan  University  lay  very  near  the  heart  of 
Dr.  Fisk  throughout  his  sickness.  We  have  already  had 
some  evidence  of  this.  Afterward,  when  one  spoke  to  him 
of  the  loss  it  would  sustain  in  his  death,  he  said,  "  I  think  it 
is  of  God,  and  if  so,  He  will  no  doubt  take  care  of  it.  If  it 
is  not,  certainly  I  have  been  connected  with  it  long  enough. 
It  has  always  been  my  aim,  and,  so  far  as  I  know  the  feelings 
of  the  Faculty,  it  has  been  the  aim  of  us  all,  to  send  young 
men  into  the  world  to  make  it  better." 

Again,  when  one  spoke  to  him  of  the  difficulty  of  filling 

*  Alluding  to  the  inadequacy  of  its  funds  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  several 
claimants. 


UNIVERSITY. — PROFESSORS.  STUDENTS. 


445 


his  place  in  the  Faculty,  he  observed,  "  It  will  be  easy  to 
find  another  president,  but  not  so  easy  to  find  another  father." 

Then,  having  requested  the  professors  who  were  present 
to  come  round  him,  he  expressed  his  fear  and  regret  that  the 
Church  generally  was  not  sufficiently  alive  to  the  interests 
of  the  University  ;  when  he  observed  to  them,  "  On  you, 
therefore,  will  devolve  a  double  duty.  Oh,  be  faithful !  Hith- 
erto you  have  been  faithful."  Then  to  Professor  Smith  he 
said,  "I  thank  you  for  the  interest  you  have  ever  manifested 
in  relieving  my  burden.  You  and  Professor  Huber  have  been 
associated  with  me  the  longest ;  you  have,  therefore,  shared 
with  me  the  deepest  in  the  cares,  the  interests,  and  the 
poverty  of  the  University.  But  you  will  not  lose  your  re- 
ward. I  would  express  my  love  and  gratitude  to  you  all 
for  your  kindness  to  me.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  re- 
flect how  pleasantly  we  have  always  lived  together,  not  only 
in  college,  but  in  our  little  family  circle.  "We  have  shared 
each  other's  joys  and  each  other's  sorrows."  He  then  com- 
mended his  afflicted  wife  to  their  care  and  sympathy,  observ- 
ing, "  I  believe  she  has  added  years  to  my  life  by  her  con- 
stant care  and  nursing.  You  will  love  her  for  my  sake 
when  I  am  gone."  The  lady  of  one  of  the  professors  as- 
sured him  they  had  done  so,  and  should  do  so  still. 

At  another  time,  speaking  of  the  professors,  he  observed, 
"We  all  loved  each  other,  and  lived  together  in  such  harmo- 
ny ;"  when  the  lady  of  one  of  them  replied,  "  Yes,  doctor, 
but  you  were  the  magnet  that  drew  us  all  together. — We  all 
loved  you."  "  Yes,"  was  his  characteristic  answer,  "but  not 
because  I  was  worthy." 

Speaking  of  the  University  and  the  professors  leads  us 
naturally  to  speak  of  the  students.  We  have  had  suffi- 
cient proof,  in  the  course  of  this  memoir,  of  the  reciprocal 
affection  existing  between  them  and  their  president.  Deep 
was  the  sorrow  which  filled  their  hearts  on  learning  his  pres- 
ent condition  ;  with  earnestness  they  desired  a  parting  inter- 
view with  their  revered  instructer  and  guardian.  He  de- 
sired that  they  might  all  be  admitted.  On  seeing  them  at  the 
door  of  his  chamber,  he  beckoned  them  to  approach,  and,  as 
they  came  one  by  one,  he  gave  each  his  feeble  hand,  and 
38 


446 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


bade  them  an  affectionate  farewell,  adapting  his  advice  or 
admonition  to  each  with  admirable  discernment  and  propri- 
ety. It  was  remarkable  that,  though  not  less  than  a  hun- 
dred— it  was  just  the  commencement  of  the  term,  and  many 
of  the  students  had  not  yet  arrived — received  his  dying  coun- 
sel, yet  to  no  two  did  he  speak  alike.  The  impression  on 
the  minds  of  the  students  was  very  deep.  One  of  them,  in 
a  letter  to  another,  who  was  absent,  says,  "  O  !  what  a  scene 
was  this  !  I  may  forget  the  name  of  my  father,  and  know 
not  the  mother  who  bore  me,  as  soon  as  will  the  memory  of 
that  day  pass  from  me." 

It  will  not  be  supposed  that  he  overlooked  or  neglected 
his  parents  in  his  final  remembrances.  At  an  early  period 
of  his  illness  he  remarked,  "  My  dear  aged  parents,  how  will 
they  bear  the  stroke  ?  God  will  strengthen  them  for  all  his 
will."  Then  looking  at  Mrs.  F.,  he  said,  "  Write  to  them, 
as  soon  as  you  can,  all  the  particulars  of  my  sickness.  Give 
my  best  love  to  them.  Tell  them  I  have  always  hoped  to 
be  permitted  to  close  their  eyes,  and  that  they  would  be 
spared  the  pain  of  weeping  over  me.  But  it  is  the  will  of 
God,  and  it  is  all  right.  Wherein  I  have  failed  in  duty,  I 
believe  they  will  put  it  down  to  poor  human  nature.  Give 
my  best  love  to  all  of  them.  Tell  them  (the  whole  family) 
I  believe  I  shall  meet  them  all  in  Heaven,  and  in  that  I 
greatly  rejoice ;  and  that  I  die  at  peace  with  God  and  all 
mankind." 

He  did  not  forget  his  English  brethren.  A  letter,  which 
had  for  some  time  been  expected  from  England,  arrived  on 
the  12th,  in  which  he  evinced  deep  interest.  When  the 
letter  was  read  to  him,  he  said,  "  Dear,  dear  brethren !  it  is 
so  like  them  !    I  shall  meet  them  in  Heaven." 

When  Dr.  Fisk's  illness  became  generally  known,  which 
was  very  soon  after  his  attack,  it  produced  an  uncommon 
sensation  in  the  public  mind,  especially  in  our  own  Church. 
Immediately  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Methodist  Mis- 
sionary Society  in  New- York  held  a  special  meeting  upon 
the  subject,  passed  appropriate  resolutions  in  reference  to  it, 
and  appointed  a  delegation  of  nine  members  "  to  repair 
forthwith  to  Middletown,"  thus  the  resolution  reads,  "  in  to- 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATION. 


447 


ken  of  the  interest  felt  in  the  present  season  of  alarm  on  ac- 
count of  our  esteemed  brother,  and  that  they  be  authorized, 
in  the  event  of  his  death,  to  prepare  and  adopt,  on  behalf  of 
this  board,  such  resolutions  of  condolence  as  the  melancholy 
occasion  may  require,  and  take  such  other  measures  as  cir- 
cumstances may  call  for." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs,  the  Rev.  John  Lindsey,  and  Gabriel 
P.  Disosway,  Esq.,  being  on  the  committee,  fulfilled  this 
mournful  office  ;  the  others  were  not  able  to  go.  When  Dr. 
Fisk,  at  their  introduction,  was  informed  of  the  action  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  he  observed,  "  I  feel  very  grateful, 
though  very  unworthy  of  such  attention.  It  is,  however, 
only  an  additional  evidence  of  the  Christian  sympathy  and 
brotherly  affection  I  have  so  long  beheld  among  my  breth- 
ren." 

One  of  the  gentlemen  spoke  to  him  of  his  future  prospects. 
Among  other  remarks  expressive  of  his  Christian  hopes,  he 
said,  in  allusion  to  the  violent  paroxysms  he  had  passed 
through,  "  I  have  been  in  sight  of  the  port,  and  thought  to 
have  entered  it  before  now.  But  O  !  what  a  rough  sea  I  had 
to  contend  with  !  But  I  am  driven  back,  and  now  feel  my- 
self in  a  calmer  sea.  What  I  may  be  called  to  contend  with 
before  I  enter  the  harbour  of  rest,  I  know  not ;  but  all  is 
right  which  God  orders.  The  distance  between  the  two 
worlds  is  exceedingly  short.  It  is  but  a  step  from  one  to 
the  other." 

To  Dr.  Bangs  he  gave  a  commission  to  say  to  the  New- 
York  Conference,  "  That  I  give  it  as  my  dying  request  that 
they  nurse  the  Wesleyan  University — that  they  must  exert 
themselves  to  sustain  and  carry  it  forward." 

At  an  early  period  of  his  illness,  when  he  had  taken  leave 
of  his  friends  and  left  some  messages  for  the  absent,  Mrs. 
Fisk  asked  him  if  he  had  any  message  for  the  New-England 
Conference.  He  replied,  "  I  have  not  strength  to  frame 
one.  Yet  you  may  say  to  them,  '  O,  be  faithful  !  And 
that,  although  we  have  had  some  difference  of  opinion,  I  die 
at  peace  with  them,  and  at  peace  with  all  mankind ;  and  I 
hope  they  will  strive  to  meet  me  in  Heaven,  where  we  shall 
see  eye  to  eye.' " 


448 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


The  delegation,  finding  Dr.  Fisk  too  low  to  converse,  and 
yet  with  no  immediate  prospect  of  a  dissolution,  returned 
home  the  following  day.  On  ascertaining  their  departure, 
he  expressed  his  regret,  observing,  "  I  have  been  trying  to 
save  my  strength  to  talk  with  Dr.  Bangs.  But  I  shall  meet 
them  all  in  Heaven."  Then  turning  to  Mrs.  Fisk,  he  said, 
"  Write  to  Dr.  Bangs,  and  say  that  it  is  my  request  that  my 
writings  which  have  been  published  may  be  collected  into 
one  form,  and  published  for  your  benefit,  for  you  can  expect 
but  little  from  the  New-England  Conference.  Tell  Dr. 
Bangs  to  say  to  the  brethren  that  I  believe  they  would  wish 
to  see  you  provided  for,  and  if  there  should  be  more  than 
you  need,  let  it  go  to  the  University  :  I  think  it  will  do  more 
good  to  the  Church  generally.  If  I  had  thousands  to  leave, 
I  should  think  I  was  benefiting  the  general  Church  most  by 
leaving  it  to  the  University ;  for,  I  trust,  streams  will  issue 
from  it  which  will  greatly  assist  in  fertilizing  our  whole 
moral  vineyard.  Education  must  go  hand  in  hand  with  re- 
ligion, or  the  world  will  never  be  converted  without  a  direct 
miracle  from  God.  Our  people  will  take  care  of  our  other 
institutions,  but  I  fear  they  are  not  sufficiently  awake  to  the 
subject  of  education.  O  !  if  I  could  only  feel  that  our  peo- 
ple— our  brethren  in  the  ministry — were  alive  to  the  interests 
of  the  University,  how  it  would  cheer  my  departure.  But  I 
leave  it  in  the  hands  of  a  good  God,  who  has  blessed  it  be- 
yond our  most  sanguine  expectations,  and,  I  trust,  will  con- 
tinue to  bless  it  for  the  good  of  the  Church  and  for  his  own 
glory." 

When  he  was  asked  his  views  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety, he  replied,  "  The  same  they  have  ever  been.  I  regret 
that  I  did  not  join  that  society  sooner.  I  rejoice  that  I 
joined  it  when  I  did.  It  is  the  cause  of  God,  and  will 
prevail." 

At  a  later  period  of  his  sickness,  another  asked  him  the 
same  question,  not  knowing  that  it  had  been  asked  before, 
alluding  also  to  the  assertion  of  some,  that  he  would  change 
his  mind  when  he  should  come  to  die.  He  answered  in 
substance  as  before,  but  added,  "  I  advocated  that  cause 
from  principle :  it  was  not  blind  impulse  or  passion,  though 


DISINTERESTEDNESS  AND  GRATITUDE. 


449 


I  may  sometimes  have  erred  in  spirit.  But  they  have  been 
unbrotherly  in  imputing  to  me  motives  that  were  never  in 
my  heart. " 

To  the  Reverend  Mr.  Granger  he  spoke  of  the  happiness 
of  the  union  of  all  real  Christians  of  whatever  name. 
"  Oh,"  said  he,  14  the  near  prospect  of  Heaven  seems  to  swal- 
low up  all  these  little  distinctions  which  separate  evangelical 
Christians." 

The  reader  has  had  ample  proof  of  his  love  of  labour, 
and  the  following  remarks  show  how  he  looked  upon  this 
subject  now.  Hearing  Mrs.  Fisk  say  something  about  his 
life  being  sacrificed,  he  looked  up  and  said,  44  Sacrifice — 
sacrifice — what  did  you  say  ?"  and,  on  being  asked  if  he  did 
not  know  what  his  physicians  said  of  his  case,  he  replied, 
44  Yes  ;  they  say  my  nervous  system  is  prostrated  ;  and  that, 
to  be  sure,  looks  like  it.  But  it  is  too  late  now."  A  few 
minutes  after,  having  been  placed  in  his  chair,  he  said,  "  I  do 
not  know  but  my  friends  will  think  I  have  done  wrong  in  ex- 
erting myself  so  much — and  I  do  not  know  but  I  have  ;  but 
I  have  not  intended  it.  It  'is,  however,  much  more  pleas- 
ant to  me  now  to  look  back,  and  feel  that  I  have  endeav- 
oured to  exert  myself  to  the  utmost  of  my  strength — for  you 
know  I  could  do  but  little  at  best — than  it  would  be  to  look 
back  on  a  life  of  idleness.  We  were  not  placed  here  to  be 
idle  ;  no,  nor  shall  we  be  idle  in  Heaven.  I  feel,  indeed, 
as  if  I  should  hardly  want  to  go  there  if  I  thought  I  should 
be  idle.  If  the  Lord  take  me  away,  he  has  something  for  me 
to  do ;  for  he  never  gave  me  such  an  energy  of  soul  as  I 
now  feel  that  I  have,  without  designing  to  employ  it." 

Those  who  have  followed  our  memoirs  of  this  truly  won- 
derful and  exalted  man,  have  had  repeated  proofs  of  those 
twin  virtues,  disinterestedness  and  gratitude.  These  shone 
brightly  in  him  to  the  last.  We  were  struck  with  the  for- 
mer in  a  little  incident  which  occurred  on  Monday,  Febru- 
ary the  11th.  One  of  his  attendant  physicians,  Dr.  Wood- 
ward, was  sent  for  by  another  patient.  As  he  was  leaving 
the  room,  Dr.  Fisk  said,  "  The  doctor  will  not  leave  me 
now.  I  feel  that  the  paroxysm  will  be  very  severe."  But 
on  being  told  that  it  was  to  a  lady,  who  was  very  sick,  he 
38*  Lll 


450 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


said,  "  Oh,  then,  let  him  go ;"  and  immediately  said  to  Mrs. 
Fisk,  "  We  must  pray  for  her,"  immediately  closing  his 
eyes  as  if  to  engage  in  silent  prayer.  Thus,  in  his  own 
deepest  agony,  he  had  sympathy  to  bestow  on  others,  and 
was  ready  to  part  with  assistance  even  which  he  needed  for 
himself. 

In  the  same  spirit  he  manifested  the  most  lively  gratitude 
for  even  slight  favours,  and  at  the  same  time  evinced  the 
greatest  uneasiness  at  giving  trouble.  This  he  expressed  to 
those  friends  who,  from  time  to  time,  came  to  watch  with 
him.  To  one  he  would  say,  "  Have  you  left  your  own  dear 
homes?"  to  another,  "your  own  sweet  little  flock?"  to  a 
third,  "  your  comfortable  bed  ?"  to  a  fourth,  "  Have  you  cho- 
sen the  chamber  of  suffering  to  wait  on  me — poor  unworthy 
me  ?"  and  at  one  time,  when  a  friend  attempted  to  support 
him  in  an  easier  posture,  he  said,  "  It  will  not  afford  relief 
enough  to  compensate  you  for  your  fatigue.  I  am  sure  I 
do  not  know  what  I  am  spared  for,  unless  to  furnish  an 
opportunity  of  showing  the  patience  of  my  friends.  Sure 
never  man  had  such  friends."  At  another  time  he  ob- 
served, "  O  that  I  could  die  in  an  obscure  corner,  rather 
than  give  such  trouble  to  my  friends  !"  Indeed,  through- 
out his  sickness  he  made  innumerable  observations  of  the 
same  nature,  showing  his  gratitude,  his  care  for  others,  and 
his  oblivion  of  self. 

We  have  already  observed  that  our  patient  sufferer,  owing 
to  his  difficulty  in  respiration,  was  unable  to  lie  but  an  hour 
or  two  in  twenty-four,  and  that  but  for  very  brief  periods. 
He  sat  in  his  chair,  supported  by  pillows,  which  needed  to 
be  differently  placed  every  few  minutes,  to  change  his  posi- 
tion and  give  him  relief.  His  pain  and  weariness  were  un- 
utterable. This  fact  gave  rise  to  some  painfully  interesting 
remarks.  Thus,  at  one  time,  after  he  had  lain  on  the  bed  a 
few  moments,  he  said,  "  I  can  find  no  rest — tried  the  bed, 
but  my  body  is  sore  all  over.  I  cannot  lie  on  it.  What 
must  a  man  do  when  he  can  neither  lie  nor  sit  ?  O  weary, 
weary  me  !  When  shall  I  find  rest — rest  in  the  grave  ?" 
Again,  after  a  fruitless  effort  to  lie  down,  he  said,  "  I  have 
always  thought  I  should  have  a  lingering  sickness,  but  an 


PATIENCE.  SELF-POSSESSION. 


451 


easy  death.  I  would  like  to  have  my  bed  my  dying  pillow  ; 
but  my  Saviour  died  on  the  cross."  He  then  repeated  the 
stanza  commencing 

"  How  bitter  that  cup," 

and  ending, 

"  Did  Jesus  thus  suffer,  and  shall  I  repine  1" 

At  another  time,  when  nature  seemed  exhausted  and  life 
was  fast  ebbing  out,  as  he  was  lifted  from  the  bed  to  his 
chair,  he  sighed  forth,  "  From  the  chair  to  the  throne  !" 

During  the  entire  period  of  his  unparalleled  sufferings,  his 
patience  was  wonderful.  No  expression  of  dissatisfaction 
escaped  him,  nor  any  appearance  of  peevishness  or  irrita- 
tion, even  under  the  greatest  distress,  nor  when  disappointed 
of  expected  relief.  Thus,  on  one  occasion,  after  many  in- 
effectual attempts  to  ease  his  pain  and  weariness  by  chan- 
ging his  position,  at  length  looking  up,  with  one  of  his  sweet 
smiles,  he  said,  "  We  will  try  to  make  it  do.  I  hope  you 
will  not  think  me  impatient  because  I  want  moving  so  often." 
At  another  time  he  remarked,  "I  hope  I  am  not  impatient; 
I  groan  and  sigh  a  great  deal ;  and  I  have,  perhaps,  been 
in  the  habit  of  it  all  my  life"  (no  one  else  thought  so)  ;  "but 
I  hope  it  is  not  impatience  ;  and  I  think  it  is  not.  It  is  only 
one  of  Nature's  own  methods  of  expressing  her  agony ;  and 
I  do  not  know  but  she  finds  relief  in  that  way." 

After  a  season  of  intense  anguish,  he  said,  "All  this  and 
not  death  ?  I  thought  I  was  almost  home  ;  but  if  the  Lord 
bid  me  suffer,  I  would  say,  4  Thy  will  be  done  !'  I  would 
have  no  will  but  his.  Oh,  it  is  sweet  to  sink  into  the  will 
of  God,  and  feel  that  all  is  well !" 

It  was  admirable  to  observe  how,  while  consciousness  re- 
mained, Dr.  Fisk  maintained  his  individuality.  He  was  him- 
self throughout ;  only  each  grace,  each  virtue,  shining,  if 
possible,  with  increased  radiance.    For  thus 

"  The  unrobing  spirit  cast 
Diviner  glories  to  the  last." 

This  was  partly  seen  in  his  observations  to  the  great  variety 
of  persons  who  visited  him  in  the  chamber  of  death.  He 
had  no  stereotyped  phrases,  which  retain  their  form  when 
their  original  import  is  evaporated.    He  uttered  his  own 


452 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


unpremeditated  thoughts  and  feelings,  addressing  each  one 
with  admirable  judgment  and  adaptation,  and  wonderful 
variety.  Thus,  to  an  aged  physician,  who  called  as  a  friend 
to  see  him,  he  remarked,  "  You  see,  sir,  this  poor,  suffering 
body,  fast  wasting  away  :  yes,  it  will  soon  see  corruption. 
But  the  kernel  must  decay,  that  the  germe  may  come  forth 
in  immortal  beauty.  The  Saviour's  love  has  purchased  it 
for  sinful  man !"  And  to  a  gentleman,  with  whom  he  had 
been  often  engaged  in  transacting  business  for  the  Universi- 
ty, he  remarked,  as  he  held  out  his  feeble  hand  to  greet  him 
on  his  entrance,  "  You  see  me  here,  sir,  hovering  between 
two  worlds :"  "  And  fit  for  either,"  was  the  expressive  answer. 

Towards  the  close  of  his  illness,  Dr.  Fisk  gradually  ap- 
proached a  state  of  lethargy  or  coma,  from  which,  at  times, 
it  was  somewhat  difficult  to  arouse  him.  But  even  then, 
when  brought  to  sensibility,  he  manifested  his  usual  charac- 
teristics ;  and  even  in  his  wanderings  his  accustomed  mental 
tendencies  were  clearly  discerned.  His  remarks  were  often, 
apparently,  detached  from  some  intellectual  process,  like 
shining  particles  broken  off  from  a  diamond.  Thus,  at  one 
time  he  said,  "  It  has  saved  us  from  many  absurdities ;"  at 
another,  "We  do  not  undertake  to  correct  popular  expres- 
sions." At  one  time  he  seemed  to  be  preaching  a  sermon; 
at  another  time,  arranging  a  class,  when,  apparently,  after 
several  ineffectual  attempts  to  regulate  them,  he  said,  in  the 
mildest  manner,  "  Well,  if  you  will  not  do  it,  I  cannot  help 
it ;  I  cannot  explain  myself  better."  At  another  time  he 
called  for  a  paper  :  "  One  with  Hebrew  letters,  adapted  to 
this  case."  Yet,  when  roused  from  these  reveries,  he  was 
alive  to  the  name  of  the  Saviour,  and  to  the  voice  of  piety 
and  devotion. 

Throughout  his  illness,  the  dying  saint  had  been  distin- 
guished no  less  for  coolness  and  self-possession,  than  for 
the  loftiness  and  power  of  Christian  faith.  He  watched  the 
progress  of  his  own  symptoms  ;  from  his  skill  in  pathology, 
he  knew  how  to  interpret  his  feelings,  and  remarked  upon 
them  with  the  coolness  of  a  spectator.  In  consequence  of 
a  partial  paralysis  of  the  nerves  connected  with  the  organs 
of  respiration,  he  could  not  breathe  but  by  a  voluntary  exer- 


DEATH. 


453 


tion.  Observing  this,  he  said,  "  I  cannot  endure  long.  Dif- 
ficulty of  breathing  prevents  sleep.  Breathing  is  voluntary, 
and  requires  effort.  When  I  lay  in  a  doze  and  forget  my- 
self, I  cease  to  breathe,  and  then  it  wakes  me."  At  another 
time,  on  opening  the  door  to  give  him  air,  he  said,  "  It  is  of 
no  use.  There  is  air  enough,  but  I  cannot  inhale.  There 
is  a  want  of  energy  in  the  respiratory  nerves.  They  have 
no  power.  I  was  perfectly  sensible  of  it  yesterday,  and  all 
the  physicians  agree  in  that." 

February  14th,  as  his  regular  physician,  Dr.  Miner,  was 
examining  his  pulse,  he  faintly  said,  "  Why  do  you  examine 
the  pulse  without  prescribing  ?  Is  it  low  ?"  "  Yes,  sir, 
very  low."  "Is  it  fluttering?"  "  Not  yet,  sir."  "Not 
yetV  he  replied,  faintly;  and  then  sighed  out,  "The  hour 
of  release  is  at  hand." 

On  the  19th,  as  one  came  into  the  room,  he  said,  "  I  am 
going  very  fast — filling  up  with  water — feet  and  hands  swell- 
ing more ;"  at  the  same  time  rubbing  his  hands  together. 
At  another  time,  as  he  extended  his  dying  hand  to  greet  a 
friend  who  had  been  sent  for,  he  said,  "  I  believe  I  am  go- 
ing ;"  and  soon  after  broke  out  in  a  distinct  though  interrupt- 
ed articulation, 

" '  There  is  my  house  and  portion  fair, 
My  treasure  and  my  friends  are  there 

some  of  them,  at  least,  and  the  rest  are  on  their  way."  And 
on  being  asked  if  he  still  believed  in  the  doctrines  which  he 
had  preached,  he  answered,  "  I  do.  They  are  God's  truths, 
and  will  bear  the  light  of  eternity.  I  should  be  glad  to  be 
favoured  with  more  ecstatic  joy.  As  I  draw  near  the  celes- 
tial world,  it  seems  desirable  to  have  a  bright  view  of  its 
glories."  To  the  Rev.  Heman  Bangs,  who  came  to  see  him 
in  his  last  moments,  and  said  that  he  had  "  dreamed  of  see- 
ing him  in  his  sick  chamber,  and  that  the  room  seemed  filled 
with  coruscations  of  glory,"  he  replied,  "  I  have  not  those 
coruscations  of  glory — those  bright  visions  of  the  heavenly 
world,  but  I  have  a  fixed  peace." 

Thus  he  continued,  gradually  sinking  into  unconscious- 
ness, from  which  it  became  increasingly  difficult  to  arouse 
him ;  nevertheless,  when  aroused,  his  mind  seemed  perfect- 
ly clear.  On  the  20th,  when  articulation  was  rapidly  failing 


454 


LIFE  OF  WILLBUR  FISK. 


him,  a  friend  said  to  him,  "  You  suffer  a  great  deal  of  dis» 
tress,  sir,  from  fatigue  and  exhaustion  ;  but  it  must  be  over 
soon  :  and  how  sweet  is  rest  to  a  weary  man.  There  is  a 
place  '  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the 
weary  are  at  rest.'  "  He  responded  distinctly,  "  Bless  God 
for  that !"  And  on  the  21st,  when  he  was  still  farther  sunk 
into  coma,  the  same  friend  coming  into  the  room,  said,  "  I 
have  come  to  see  you  again,  sir  ;  do  you  know  me  ?"  Press- 
ing his  hand,  he  said  in  a  whisper,  "Yes;  glorious  hope  !" 
After  this,  when  Mrs.  Fisk  took  his  hand  and  inquired  if  he 
knew  her,  he  returned  the  pressure,  saying,  "  Yes,  love, 
yes."  These,  we  believe,  were  the  last  words  he  uttered. 
He  lingered  on  our  mortal  shores  until  the  next  day,  when, 
about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  his  redeemed  and  now 
disenthralled  spirit  took  its  flight  to  its  kindred  skies,  to  min- 
gle with  the  Church  of  the  first-born,  and  join  the  anthems 
of  the  celestial  choir.  Thus  the  anniversary  of  the  day  that 
gave  a  hero  and  a  patriot  to  the  world,  is  the  anniversary  of 
the  day  that  gave  another  sanctified  spirit  to  Paradise.  Let 
the  names  of  Washington  and  Fisk,  both  great  in  their  re- 
spective departments,  blend  in  future  unison.  Their  happy 
spirits  have  long  since  greeted  each  other  in  the  plains  of 
the  brighter  world  above. 

As  the  body  lay  in  the  coffin,  arrayed  in  the  habiliments 
of  the  grave,  its  appearance  was  singularly  lovely.  Every 
trace  of  its  past  agonies  had  disappeared.  The  brow  was 
perfectly  unwrinkled,  and  his  own  peculiar  smile  seemed  to 
be  playing  about  the  mouth.  .The  anticipations  of  the  spirit 
appeared  to  have  left  their  influence  on  its  former  dwelling- 
place  ;  for 

"  Living  light  had  touched  the  brow  of  death." 
As  Dr.  Fisk's  illness  had  created  a  deep  sensation  in  the 
public  mind,  so  his  death  drew  together  a  vast  concourse  of 
mourners.  They  came  from  far  and  near.  Although  the 
weather  was  very  unfavourable,  yet  the  large  church  in  which 
the  services  were  held  could  not  accommodate  the  people. 
The  funeral  address,  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Means,  of 
Emory  College,  Georgia,  was  appropriate  and  eloquent, 
leaving  few  dry  eyes  in  the  congregation.  The  perform- 
ance by  the  choir  of  those  beautiful  pieces, 


CONCLUSION. 


455 


"  Unveil  thy  bosom,  faithful  tomb," 

and, 

"  Thou  art  gone  to  the  grave,  but  we  will  not  deplore  thee," 
will,  by  many  who  were  present,  never  be  forgotten.  The 
body  was  borne  to  the  grave,  at  their  especial  request,  by 
the  Middletown  company  of  artillery,  in  which  Dr.  Fisk  had 
held  the  office  of  chaplain.  His  body  reposes  under  the 
green  sod  of  the  College  Cemetery,  near  to  those  of  Profess- 
or John  M.  Smith,  Aaron  H.  Hurd,  and  some  others,  with 
whom  he  had  held  "  sweet  converse''  among  the  living. 
Thus  far  not  one  has  been  interred  in  that  ground  but  in  a 
bright  hope  of  the  glorious  resurrection  ;  and  when  they  shall 
come  forth,  a  radiant  band,  at  the  sound  of  the  last  trump, 
then  shall  Fisk  appear  as  the  central  star,  and  the  brightest 
in  the  constellation.  A  plain  monumental  shaft  marks  the 
place  of  his  repose,  bearing  in  front  the  simple  inscription, 

"WILLBUR  FISK,  S.T.D., 

"  FIRST  PRESIDENT   OF   THE  WESLEYAN  UNIVERSITY  :" 

and  on  the  reverse,  the  dates  of  his  birth  and  death. 

No  monumental  eulogy  could  enumerate  his  virtues,  and 
no  other  title  was  needed  to  secure  his  individuality. 

His  age  was  forty-seven  years,  five  months,  and  twenty- 
two  days. 

Having  taken  great  pains,  in  the  progress  of  this  work,  to 
draw  out  and  fairly  exhibit  the  distinctive  features  of  our 
subject's  character,  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  append  any 
formal  delineation.  Besides,  after  the  scenes  just  described, 
we  have  no  disposition  to  obtrude  ourselves  longer  upon  the 
reader's  attention.  God  grant  that  the  perusal  of  these 
memorials  may  awaken  in  many  hearts  ardent  aspirations 
after  similar  excellence.  Our  subject,  as  we  infer  from 
one  of  his  letters,  set  before  himself  the  beautiful  model  of 
the  "  heavenly  Fletcher  of  Madely  ;"  we  commend  to  imita- 
tion the  bright  example  of  Willbur  Fisk.  May  you,  dear 
reader,  so  "  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ." 


THE  END. 


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View  of  their  Civil  Institutions, 
Antiquities,  Arts,  Religion,  Lit- 
erature, Commerce,  Agriculture, 
and  Natural  Productions.  By  Rev. 
Michael  Russell,  LL.D.  18mo. 
Map  and  Engravings.  [Family 
Library,  No.  73.] 

ITALY. — A  Compendious  History 
of  Italy.  Translated  from  the 
Italian  of  Sforzosi.  By  Nathaniel 
Greene.  18mo.  [Family  Libra- 
ry, No.  79.] 

CHINA.— The  Chinese  :  a  general 
Description  of  the  Empire  of  Chi- 
na and  its  Inhabitants.  By  John 
Francis  Davis,  Esq.  2  vols.  18mo. 
Map  and  EngTavings.  [Family 
Library,  Nos.  80  and  81.] 

CIRCUMNAVIGATION  OF  THE 
GLOBE. — An  historical  Account 
of  the  Circumnavigation  of  the 
Globe,  and  of  the  Progress  of  Dis- 
covery in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  from 
the  Voyage  of  Magellan  to  the 
Death  of  Cook.  18rno.  Engra- 
vings.   [Family  Library,  No.  82.] 

TYTLER'S  UNIVERSAL  HISTO- 
RY.— Universal  History,  from  the 
Creation  of  the  World  to  the  De- 
cease of  George  III.,  1820.  By 
the  Hon.  Alexander  Fraser  Tytler 
and  Rev.  Edward  Nares,  D.D.  6 
vols.  18mo.  [Family  Library,  Nos. 
86,  87,  88,  89,  90,  and  91.] 

BRITISH  AMERICA.— An  histor- 
ical and  descriptive  Account  of 
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Canada  (Upper  and  Lower),  Nova 
Scotia,  New-Brunswick,  New- 
foundland, Prince  Edward  Island, 
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ies, <tc. —  and  their  Social  and 
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count of  the  Manners  and  Present 
State  of  the  Aboriginal  Tribes. 
By  Hugh  Murray.  2  vols.  18mo. 
With  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
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FINE  ARTS.— Outline  History  of 
the  Fine  Arts.  Embracing  a  View 
of  the  Rise,  Progress,  and  Influ- 
ence of  the  Arts  among  different 
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j  Works  of  many  celebrated  Artists. 
18mo.  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
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KEIGHTLEY'S  ENGLAND.  — 
History  of  England,  from  the  Ear- 
liest Period  to  1839.  By  Thomas 
Keightley.  Edited  by  an  Ameri- 
can. 5  vols.  18mo.  [Family  Li- 
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118.) 


UNITED  STATES  -History  of 

the  United  States,  from  their  first 
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of  the  Administration  of  Mr.  Mad- 
ison in  1817.  By  Salma  Hale. 
2  vols.  18mo.  [Family  Library, 
Nos.  119  and  120.] 

ICELAND,  GREENLAND,  &c— 
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JAPAN— Manners  and  Customs  of 
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recent  Dutch  Residents  in  Japan, 
and  from  the  German  Work  of 
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CONNECTICUT.— History  of  Con- 
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RUINED  CITIES.— Ruins  of  An 
cient  Cities ;  with  General  and 
Particular  Accounts  of  their  Rise, 
Fall,  and  Present  Condition.  By 
Charles  Bucke.  2  vols.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  134  and 
135.] 

DENMARK,  SWEDEN,  AND 
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ty, Religion,  Literature,  Arts,  and 
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MICHIGAN.— History  of  Michigan, 
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NAPOLEON'S  RUSSIAN  EXPE- 
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1812.  By  General  Count  Philip 
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142.] 

HISTORY  OF  PHILOSOPHY.— 
An  Epitome  of  the  History  of  Phi- 
losophy. Being  the  Work  adopt- 
ed by  the  University  of  France  for 
Instruction  in  the  Colleges  and 
High  Schools.  Translated  from 
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Continuation  of  the  History.  By 
C.  S.  Hemy,  D.D.  2  vols.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  143  and 
144.] 

SPALDING'S  ITALY.— Italy  and 
the  Italian  Islands.  By  William 
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GOLDSMITH'S  GREECE.— His- 
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With  Notes,  by  Miss  Eliza  Rob- 
ins, Author  of  "  American  Popular 
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Biography. 


3 


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GOLDSMITH'S  ROME.— History 
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MOORS  OF  SPAIN. — History  of 
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TION.— Luther  and  the  Lutheran 
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REFORMATION  IN  FRANCE.— 
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UNCLE  PHILIP'S  VIRGINIA.— 
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SPARKS'S  AMERICAN  BIOGRA- 
PHY.— Library  of  American  Bio- 
graphy. Edited  by  Jared  Sparks, 
LL.D.  10  vols.  12mo.  Portraits, 
&c. 

Vol.  I.  contains  Life  of  John  Stark, 
by  E.  Everett. — Life  of  Charles 
Brockden  Brown,  by  W.  H.  Pres- 
cott. — Life  of  Richard  Montgom- 
ery, by  John  Armstrong. — Life  of 
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Vol.  II.  Life  of  Alexander  Wilson, 
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Captain  John  Smith,  by  George  S. 
Hilliard. 

Vol.  III.  Life  and  Treason  of  Bene- 
dict Arnold,  by  Jared  Sparks. 

Vol.  IV.  Life  of  Anthony  Wayne,  by 
John  Armstrong. — Life  of  Sir  Hen- 
ry Vane,  by  C.  W.  Upham. 

Vol.  V.  Life  of  John  Eliot,  the  Apos- 
tle of  the  Indians,  by  Convers 
Francis. 

Vol.  VI.  Life  of  William  Pinkney, 
by  Henry  Wheaton. — Life  of  Will- 
iam Ellery,  by  E.  T.  Channing.— 
Life  of  Cotton  Mather,  by  Wm.  B. 
O.  Peabody. 

Vol.  VII.  Life  of  Sir  William  Phips, 
by  Francis  Bowen. — Life  of  Israel 
Putnam,  by  Wm.  B.  O.  Peabody. 
— Memoir  of  Lucretia  Maria  David- 
son, by  Miss  Sedgwick. — Life  of 
David  Rittenhouse,  by  James  Ren- 
wick. 

Vol.  VIII.  Life  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
by  Samuel  Miller. — Life  of  David 
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Vol.  IX.  Life  of  Baron  Steuben,  by 
Francis  Bowen. ^-Life  of  Sebastian 
Cabot,  by  Charles  Hayward,  Jr.— 
Life  of  William  Eaton,  by  Corne- 
lius C.  Felton. 

Vol.  X.  Life  of  Robert  Fulton,  by  J. 
Renwick. — Life  of  Henry  Hudson, 
by  Henry  R.  Cleveland. — Life  of 
Joseph  Warren,  by  Alexander  H. 
Everett.  —  Life  of  Father  Mar- 
quette, by  Jared  Sparks.  1 


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AMERICAN  REVOLUTION.  — 
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LOST  GREENLAND.— Uncle 
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BIOGRAPHY. 

JOHN  JAY.— Life  of  John  Jay; 
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PLUTARCH,  8vo.  —  Plutarch's 
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MOORE'S  BYRON.— Letters  and 
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AARON  BURR. — Memoirs  of  Aaron 
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BURR'S  PRIVATE  JOURNAL.— 
Private  Journal  of  Aaron  Burr, 
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spondence. Edited  by  M.L.Davis. 
2  vols.  8vo. 

MRS.  HANNAH  MORE.— Memoirs 
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GOVERNOR  LIVINGSTON.-Me- 
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dore Sedgwick,  Jr.  8vo.  Portrait. 

DUCHESS  D'ABRANTES.  —  Me- 
moirs of  the  Duchess  d'Abrantes 
(Madame  Junot).  8vo.  Portraits. 

TAYLOR'S  RECORDS.— Records 
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thor of  "  Monsieur  Tonson."  8vo. 


SALLUST.  —  Sallnst's  History  of 
the  Jugurthine  War  and  of  th« 
Conspiracy  of  Catiline.  Trans- 
lated by  William  Rose,  A.M. 
18ino.  Portrait.  [Classical  Li- 
brary, No.  5.] 

XENOPHON.— Xcnophon's  Histo- 
ry of  the  Expedition  of  Cyrus,  and 
Account  of  the  Institution  of  Cy 
rus.  Translated  by  Edward  Spel- 
man,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  Maurice  Ash- 
ly  Cooper,  M.A.  2  vols.  18mo. 
[Classical  Library,  Nos.  1  and  2.3 

C/ESAR. —  Caesar's  Commentaries 
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War,  and  the  Alexandrian,  Afri- 
can, and  Spanish  Wars.  Trans- 
lated by  William  Duncan.  2  vols. 
18mo.  Portrait.  [Classical  Li- 
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T II U  C  Y  D I D  E  S.—  Thucydides's 
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Translated  by  William  Smith, 
A.M.  2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Classical  Library,  Nos.  22  &  23.] 

LIVY. — Livy's  History  of  Rome. 
Translated  by  George  Baker.  5 
vols.  18mo.  Portrait.  [Classical 
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HERODOTUS.— Herodotus's  Gen- 
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Portrait.  [Classical  Library,  Nos. 
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REV.  JOHN  SUMMERFIELD. — 
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CLARKE,  THE  TRAVELLER.— 
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iel Clarke.  By  Rev.  William  Ot- 
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STEWART  AND  THE  "WES- 
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EDMUND  KE AN.  — Life  of  Ed- 
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HEAVEN.  339 


if°hc  cannot  have  a 
niM\ril,  In-  may  have, 

Columbus  across  ihe 
sub.  inlinat  i<  >n  within 
peetedlv  wild  waves 


t  so  much  conference  concc: 
Scripture,  and  am  now  best  i 
solve  thee  of  any  doubts  C( 


and  feared  not  the  iron-L 
ingcd  and  ihe  unknown  ten 
set  foot?    It  was  the  hop< 


it  pnsMhle  that  thy  understands* 
■mpivhend  I  ho  least  of  those  i'ivs." 
2002.  HEAVEN,  Mansiona  in.  "T\ 


2808.  HEAVEN,  Ideas  , 
mthev's  view,  the  home 
ift'cd  spirits  uf  our  ra 


tl:r  -il 

lowshi, 
fclndi  spear 


tli  1 1  h>-  v.  i.  under  r.  -t  i  nut  :  that  the  :rcai  hit 
secrets  of  the  spiritual  universe  were  hid  lion  '  Tl 
him;  that  death  would  break  down  th  bafriab: 
rier,  and  would  give  his  spirit  I'm-  s<  >pe  t(  wli 


QtJ  and  Gondo: 
Id  for  him  a  ma 
i  much  gold  ai 


gleat  p„.r(, 

away  the  hoi 
old  apothegn 
death-davof 


jierfcct  sense  of  it,  which  he  co 

2800.  HEAVEN,  Indescribable. 

could  comprehend  or  antieipati 
majestic  cloud,  the  oracular  v 
shadows  which  recede  as  we 
the  mind  with  amazement,  bu 
to  approach,  and  examine  wh; 
wish,  when  I  have  climbed  to  t 
nacle  to  which  thought  can  m 
railed  to  confess  that  I  have  r 


th- 


I'the 


HEAVEN,  Inheriting.  As 


soul  inhet 

2001.  HEAVEN,  Joya  of.  Sfc^AugUI 
us,  that  one  day  he  was  about  to  wr 
thing  upon  the  ei-hth  verse  of  the  th 
Psalm,  "  Thou  shalt  make  them 


!  have  been  in  paradise; 
.  to  me  a  wondrous  p.il- 
■r  and  precious  stones  ; 
.the  palace  that  Thomas 
It  for  thy  brother  King 
lien  the  kili'j  heard  tlu-e 


2003.  HEAVEN,  Mementoes  in.  As  an  illn-tra- 
m  how  the  spirit  may  eling  to  something  we 
ny  have  loved  in  this  lite,  permit  ine  to  reler 
a  beautiful  legend  told  in  Danish  poetry, 
n  angel  has  just  been  down  to  this  world  to 
eompany  the  soul  of  a  little  -irl  up  to  heav- 
i.  As  they  are  going  back,  the  child  no- 
es that  the  angel  bears  a  ruse-tree  in  one  of 
,  baud-,  and  asks  the  meaning  of  it.  The 


IMPORTANT  NOTICE. 


We  desire  to  call  the  especial  attention  of  the  Clergy  and  the  religious  public  to 
ou  r  new  book,  Trm  History  of  the  Gkeat  Republic  from  toe  Christian  Stand- 
point, by  the  well-known  and  popular  author,  Jesse  T.  Peck,  D.  D.  This  great 
national  work  might  have  been  appropriately  allied  GOD  IN  AMERICA,  as  it  strikingly 
presents  the  salient  points  of  our  national  history,  noting  particularly,  the  hand  of 
1'rovidence,  so  wonderfully  manifested  therein.  Its  interest  to  the  religious  public  is 
as  great  as  its  point  of  vision  is  novel.  It  Joes  a  patriotic,  as  well  as  a  pious  work, 
leadin"  the  reader  over  the  many  inviting  fi .Ids  of  American  lustory,  from  the  period 
of  discovery  to  the  close  of  the  late  civil  war.  Its  name  is  not  a  misnomer.  Though 
not  as  elaborate  as  the  costly  works  of  Bantroft  and  Hildrcth,  it  presents  all  that  tin 


will  give  tme  1 


this  busy  age.  It  is  char- 
acterized by  breadth  of  view,  thoroughness  It'  research,  vigor  of  thought,  and  elegance 
of  style,  which  make  it  a  favorite  with  the|]eople.  Scores  of  competent  reviewers, 
presidents  of  colleges,  and  leaders  among  t^  clergy,  acknowledge  the  great  debt  of 
the  religious  public  to  the  author  of  this  wor.,  confessing  both  its  religious  and  histor- 
ical value.  It  occupies  a  field  peculiarly  iti  own.  It  merits  a  place  in  the  library 
of  every  clergyman,  family,  town  and  Sund* -school  in  the  country. 

It  is  published  in  one  fine  royal  octavo  fOlume  of  720  pages,  on  superior  paper, 
from  large  and  beautiful  type,  and  is  illustrate!,  in  the  best  style  of  steel-plate  engrav- 
ing, with  thirty-four  portraits  of  distinguished  statesmen,  generals,  scholars,  philanthro- 
pists, and  divines,  and  is  offered  to  the  public,  in  doth  extra,  at  the  low  price  of  $4  ; 
in  library  leather,  §5  ;  in  half  morocco,  $6.  Solti  only  by  Subscription. 
TESTIMONIALS. 

"The  postwusorofmany  books  will  find  here  no  te 


gODt  Cbristion  patriot  I 


(  Quarterly  tfei'iVio 


KMtA.SrT,  P  I 


N.  B. — We  desire  to  secure  in  every  ownship  of  the  United  States  a  reliable 
:cn  to  act  as  apent  for  our  new  standarl  History  of  ti.e  Great  Republic,  to 
,m  the  most  liberal  terms  will  be  offered     The  book  is  one  of  permanent  value, 

is  in  demand  in  ever)'  town.  You  can.  doubtless,  from  your  extended  acquaint- 
call  the  attention  of  some  suitable  penon,  either  male  or  female,  to  it.  If  you 
recommend  us  any  agent,  who  proves  siccessful  in  selling  the  work,  wc  will  take 
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4 


Biography — Continued, 


REV.  LEMUEL  HAYNES.— 

Sketches  of  the  Life  and  Charac- 
ter of  Rev.  Lemuel  Haynes.  By 
T.  M.  Cooley,  D.D.  With  an  In- 
troduction, by  William  B.  Sprague, 
D.D.  12mo.  Portrait. 
GLASS'S  WASHINGTON.— 
A  Life  of  Washington,  in  Latin 
Prose,  by  Francis  Glass,  A.M. 
Edited  by  J.  N.  Reynolds.  12mo. 
Portrait. 

MRS.  SIDDONS.— Life  of  Mrs.  Sid- 
dons.  By  Thomas  Campbell,  Esq. 
12mo.  Portrait. 

BOSTON  TEA-PARTY.  — Traits 
of  the  Tea-Party  ;  being  a  Memoir 
of  George  R.  T.  Hewes,  one  of  the 
Last  of  its  Survivers.  With  a  His- 
tory of  that  Transaction — Remi- 
niscences of  the  Massacre  and  the 
Siege — and  other  Stories  of  Old 
Times.  By  B.B.  Thatcher.  18mo. 
Portrait. 

ECCENTRIC  CHARACTERS.— 
Wonderful  Characters :  compri- 
sing Memoirs  and  Anecdotes  of  the 
most  remarkable  Persons  of  every 
Age  and  Nation.  By  Henry  Wil- 
sod.   8vo.  Portraits. 

WICLIF.  — Life  of  Wicklif.  By 
Charles  Webb  Le  Bas.  18mo. 
Portrait. 

CRANMER. — Life  of  Archbishop 
Cranmer.  By  Charles  Webb  Le 
Bas.   2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 

LUTHER.— Luther  and  the  Luther- 
an Reformation.  By  Rev.  John 
Scott.  2  vols.  I8mo.  Portraits  of 
Luther  and  Melancthon. 

PRESIDENT  JACKSON.— Life  of 
Andrew  Jackson,  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  By 
William  Cobbett.  18mo.  Portrait. 

MATTHIAS  THE  IMPOSTOR.— 
Matthias  and  his  Impostures  ;  or, 
the  Progress  of  Fanaticism  illus- 
trated in  the  extraordinary  Case 
of  Robert  Matthews  and  some  of 
his  Forerunners  and  Disciples.  By 
William  L.  Stone.  18mo. 

COL.  CROCKETT.— Sketches  and 
Eccentricities  of  Col.  David  Crock- 
ett. 12mo. 

SIR  WALTER  SCOTT  AND 
JAMES  HOGG.— Anecdotes  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott.  By  the  Ettrick 
Shepherd.  With  a  Life  of  the 
Author,  by  S.  De  Witt  Bloodgood. 
12mo. 

SAMUEL  DREW.— The  Life, 
Character,  and  Literary  Labours 
of  Samuel  Drew.  By  his  eldest 
Son.  12mo. 

SILVIO  PELLICO.— My  Imprison- 
ments :  Memoirs  of  Silvio  Pellico 
da  Salluzzo.  Translated  by  Thos. 
Roscoe. 

NAPOLEON. — History  of  Napoleon 

Bonaparte.    By  J.  G.  Lockhart. 

2  vols.  18mo.  Portraits.  [Family 

Library,  Nos.  4  and  5.] 
LORD  NELSON.— Life  of  Nelson. 

By  Robert  Southey,  LL.D.  18mo. 

Portrait.  [Family  Library,  No.  6.] 
ALEXANDER  THE  GREAT.— 

The  Life  and  Actions  of  Alexander 

the  Great.    By  Rev.  J.  Williams. 

18mo.  Portrait.  [Fam.  Lib.,  No.  7.] 

SIR  ISAAC  NEWTON.— Life  of 
Sir  Isaac  Newton.  By  Sir  David 
Brewster,  LL.D.  18mo.  Engra- 
vings.   [Family  Library,  No.  26.] 


GALT'S  BYRON.— Life  of  Lord 
Byron.  By  John  Gait,  Esq.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  No.  9.] 

MOHAMMED. -Life  of  Mohammed. 
•  By  Rev.  George  Bush.  18mo.  En- 
gravings. [Fam.  Library,  No.  10.] 

GEORGE  IV.— Life  and  Times  of 
George  the  Fourth:  with  Anec- 
dotes of  distinguished  Persons  of 
the  last  Fifty  Years.  By  Rev. 
George  Croly.  18mo.  [Family 
Library,  No.  15.] 

PAINTERS  AND  SCULPTORS. 
— Lives  of  eminent  Painters  and 
Sculptors.  By  Allan  Cunning- 
ham. 5  vols.  18mo.  Portraits. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  17,  18,  19, 
66,  and  67.] 

MARY  QUEEN  OF  SCOTS.— 
Life  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  By 
Henry  Glassford  Bell.  2  vols. 
18mo.  Portrait.  [Family  Libra- 
ry, Nos.  21  and  22.] 

EMPRESS  JOSEPHINE.  — Me- 
moirs of  the  Empress  Josephine. 
By  John  S.  Memes,  LL.D.  18mo. 
With  Portraits.  [Family  Library, 
No.  28.] 

NAPOLEON'S  COURT  and 
CAMP.— The  Court  and  Camp  of 
Bonaparte :  comprising  Memoirs 
of  the  Bonaparte  Family — of  Na- 
poleon's Brothers,  Sisters,  Minis- 
ters, Generals,  &c.  18mo.  Por- 
trait of  Talleyrand.  [Family  Li- 
brary, No.  29.] 

EARLY  NAVIGATORS.  —  Lives 
and  Voyages  of  Drake,  Cavendish, 
and  Dampier.  Including  an  In- 
troductory View  of  the  Earlier 
Discoveries  in  the  South  Seas, 
and  the  History  of  the  Bucaniers. 
18mo.  Portraits.  [Family  Libra- 
ry, No.  30.] 

FEMALE  SOVEREIGNS.  — Me- 
moirs of  Celebrated  Female  Sover- 
eigns. By  Mrs.  Jameson.  2  vols. 
18mo.  [Family  Library,  Nos.  33 
and  34.] 

TRAVELLERS.  — Lives  of  Cele- 
brated Travellers.  By  James  Au- 
gustus St.  John.  3  vols.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  38,  39,  and 
40.] 

FREDERIC  THE  GREAT.— Life 
of  Frederic  the  Second,  King  of 
Prussia.  By  Lord  Dover.  2  vols. 
18mo.  Portrait.  [Family  Libra- 
ry, Nos.  41  and  42.] 

AMERICAN  INDIANS.  —  Indian 
Biography;  or,  an  historical  Ac- 
count of  those  Individuals  who 
have  been  distinguished  among 
the  North  American  Natives  as 
Orators,  Warriors,  Statesmen,  and 
other  remarkable  Characters.  By 
B.  B.  Thatcher.  2  vols.  18mo. 
Portrait  of  Red  Jacket.  [Family 
Library,  Nos.  45  and  46.] 

CHARLEMAGNE.— History  of 
Charlemagne.  With  an  Introduc- 
tory View  of  the  History  of  France 
to  the  Birth  of  Charlemagne.  By 
G.  P.  R.  James.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Family  Library,  No.  60.] 

CROMWELL.— Life  of  Oliver 
Cromwell.  By  Rev.  M.  Russell, 
LL.D.  18mo.  Portrait.  [Fami- 
ly Library,  Nos.  62  and  63.] 

PETER  THE  GREAT.— Memoir  of 
the  Life  of  Peter  the  Great.  By 
John  Barrow.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Family  Library,  No.  65.] 


PAULDING'S  WASHINGTON. - 

Life  of  Washington.  By  J.  K. 
Paulding.  2  vols.  18mo  Engra- 
vings. [Family  Library,  Nos.  75 
and  76.] 

Dr.  FRANKLIN.— Memoirs  of  Ben- 
jamin Franklin :  written  by  Him- 
self. With  his  most  interesting 
Essays,  Letters,  and  Miscellane- 
ous Writings  :  Familiar — Moral — 
Political — Economical — and  Phil- 
osophical. 2  vols.  18mo.  Por- 
trait. [Family  Library,  Nos.  92 
and  93.] 

PURSUIT  OF  'KNOWLEDGE.— 
Pursuit  of  Knowledge  under  Diffi- 
culties ;  its  Pleasures  and  Re- 
wards. Illustrated  by  Memoirs 
of  Eminent  Men.  2  vols.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  94  and  95.] 

MUNGO  PARK.— The  Life  and 
Travels  of  Mungo  Park ;  with  the 
Account  of  his  Death  from  the 
Journal  of  Isaaco,  and  the  Sub- 
stance of  later  Discoveries  relative 
to  his  Lamented  Fate,  and  the 
Termination  of  the  Niger.  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Family Library,  No. 
105.] 

DR.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON. — The 
Life  and  Writings  of  Samuel 
Johnson,  LL.D.  Selected  and  ar- 
ranged by  Rev.  William  P.  Page. 
2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait.  [Family 
Library,  Nos.  109  and  110.] 

GOLDSMITH.— Life  of  Oliver 
Goldsmith,  with  Selections  from 
his  Writings.  By  Washington 
Irving.  2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Fam.  Library,  Nos.  121  and  122.] 

DISTINGUISHED  MEN.— Distin- 
guished Men  of  Modern  Times 
From  the  Series  of  the  Society  for 
the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowl- 
edge. 2  vols.  18mo.  Portraits. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  123  and 
124.] 

BELKNAP'S  AMERICAN  BIOG- 
RAPHY.— American  Biography. 
By  Jeremy  Belknap,  D.D.  With 
Additions  and  Notes,  by  F.  M. 
Hubbard.   3  vols.  18mo. 
Vol.  I.  Lives  of  Biron. — Madoc.— 
Zeno. — Christopher  Columbus. 
— James  Cartier.  —  Ferdinando 
de  Soto. — Humphrey  Gilbert.— 
Walter  Raleigh  and  Richard 
Grenville. 
Vol.  II.  Lives  of  John  de  Fuca. 
— De  Monts,  Poutrincourt,  and 
Champlain. —  Ferdinando  Gor- 
ges   and    John    Mason.  —  Sir 
Thomas  Smith. — Thomas  Lord 
Delaware,  Sir  Thomas  Gates, 
Sir  Geo.  Somers,  Captain  Chris- 
topher Newport,  Sir  Thomas 
Dale,  Sir  Ferdinando  Wainman. 
— Sir  Samuel  Argal,  Sir  George 
Yeardley. — Sir  Francis  Wyat. 
— Bartholomew  Gosnold,  Mar- 
tin Pring,  Bartholomew  Gilbert, 
George  Weymouth. — John  Rob- 
inson.— John  Carver. 
Vol.  III.  Lives  of  William  Brad- 
ford.— Wm.  Brewster. — Robert 
Cushman. —  Edward  Winslow. 
— Miles  Standish. — John  Win- 
throp. —  John  Winthrop,  Jr. — 
George  Calvert,  Cecilius  Cal- 
vert (Lords  Baltimore),  Leon- 
ard Calvert.— William  Penn. 
GOVERNOR  CLINTON.— Life  of 
De  Witt  Clinton.    By  James  Ren 
wick,  LL.D.     18mo  Portraii. 
[Family  Library,  No.  125.] 


Voyages,  Travels,  etc. 


5 


COMMODORE  PERRY.— Life  of 
Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry. 
By  Alexander  Slidell  Mackenzie, 
U.S.N.  2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  126  and 
127.] 

THE  ANCIENT  PHILOSO- 
PHERS.—Lives  of  the  Ancient 
Philosophers.  Translated  from 
the  French  of  Fenelon,  with 
Notes,  and  a  Life  of  the  Author. 
By  Rev.  John  Cormack.  18ino. 
[Family  Library,  No.  140.] 

BARON  CUVIER.— Life  of  Baron 
Cuvier.    By  Mrs.  Lee.  12mo. 

vo 

Db  MOTTS  TRAVELS.— Travels 
in  Europe  and  the  East.  Em- 
bracing Observations  made  during 
a  Tour  through  Great  Britain,  Ire- 
land, France,  Belgium,  Holland, 
Prussia,  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Aus- 
tria, Bavaria,  Switzerland,  Lom- 
bardy,  Tuscany,  the  Papal  States, 
the  Neapolitan  Dominions,  Malta, 
the  Islands  of  the  Archipelago, 
Greece,  Egypt,  Asia  Minor,  Tur- 
key, Moldavia,  Wallachia,  and 
Hungary,  in  the  years  1834-1841. 
By  Valentine  Mott,  M.D.  8vo. 

STEPHENS'S  CENTRAL  AMER- 
ICA.— Incidents  of  Travel  in  Cen- 
tral A  merica,  Chiapas,  and  Yuca- 
tan. By  John  L.  Stephens.  2 
vols.  8vo.  Map  and  80  Engra- 
vings. 

STEPHENS'S  EGYPT,  &c— In- 
cidents of  Travel  in  Egypt,  Ara- 
bia Petraa,  and  the  Holy  Land. 
By  John  L.  Stephens.  2  vols. 
12mo.  Engravings. 

STEPHENS'S  GREECE,  Ac- 
Incidents  of  Travel  in  Greece, 
Turkey,  Russia,  and  Poland.  By 
John  L.  Stephens.  2  vols.  12mo» 
Engravings. 

BUCKINGHAM'S  AMERICA.  — 
America,  Historical  —  Statistic — 
and  Descriptive.  By.  J.  S.  Buck- 
ingham. 2  vols.  8vo.  Engra- 
vings. 

Dr.  FISK'S  TRAVELS.— Travels 
in  Europe  ;  viz.,  in  England,  Ire- 
land, Scotland,  France,  Italy, 
Switzerland,  some  parts  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  Netherlands,  du- 
ring the  Years  1835  and  1836.  By 
Wilbur  Fisk,  D.D.  8vo.  Engra- 
vings. 

ROBERTS'S  EMBASSY. — Embas- 
sy to  the  Eastern  Courts  of  Siam, 
Cochin-China,  and  Muscat.  By 
Edward  Roberts.  8vo. 

GLORY  AND  SHAME  OF  ENG- 
LAND.—The  Glory  and  the 
Shame  of  England.  By  C.  E. 
Lester.  2  vols.  12mo.  Engra- 
vings. 

SCHOOLCRAFT'S  EXPEDI- 
TION.—Narrative  of  an  Expedi- 
tion through  the  Upper  Mississippi 
to  Itasca  Lake,  the  actual  Source 
of  that  River.  By  Henry  R. 
Schoolcraft.    8vo.  Maps. 

Miss  SEDGWICK'S  LETTERS. 
— Letters  from  Abroad  to  Kindred 
at  Home.  By  Miss  C.  M.  Sedg- 
wick.  2  vols.  18mo. 

FLAGG'S  FAR-WEST.— The  Far- 
West  ;  or,  a  Tour  beyond  the 
Mountains.   2  vols.  12mo. 


BRUCE,  THE  TRAVELLER.— 
Life  and  Adventures  of  Bruce,  the 
African  Traveller.  By  Major  Sir 
Francis  B.  Head.  18mo.  Por- 
trait.  [Family  Library,  No.  128.] 

JAY  AND  HAMILTON.— Lives  of 
John  Jay  and  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton. By  James  Renwick,  LL.D. 
18mo.  Portrait.  [Family  Libra- 
ry, No.  129.] 

Rev.  Dr.  FISK— The  Life  and  Re- 
mains of  Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk,  D.D. 
By  Rev.  Joseph  Holdrich.  8vo. 
[In  Press.] 

TAGES,  TRAVELS,  E 

Mrs.  HAIGHT'S  LETTERS.— 
Letters  from  the  Old  World.  By 
a  Lady  of  New- York.  2  vols. 
12mo. 

GRANT'S  NESTORIANS. — The 
Nestorians ;  or,  the  Lost  Tribes. 
Containing  Evidence  of  their  Iden- 
tity, an  Account  of  their  Manners, 
Customs,  and  Ceremonies,  togeth- 
er with  Sketches  of  Travel  in  An- 
cient Assyria,  Armenia,  Media, 
and  Mesopotamia,  and  Illustra- 
tions of  Scripture  Prophecy.  By 
Asahel  Grant,  M.D.  12mo.  Map. 

SLIDELL'S  YEAR  IN  SPAIN.— 
A  Year  in  Spain.  By  a  Young 
American.  3  vols.  12mo.  En- 
gravings. 

SLIDELL'S  SPAIN  REVISITED. 
— Spain  Revisited.  By  the  Au- 
thor of  "A  Year  in  Spain."  2 
vols.  12mo.  Engravings. 

SLIDELL  IN  ENGLAND.— The 
American  in  England.  By  the 
Author  of  **  A  Year  in  Spain."  2 
vols.  12mo. 

Dr.  HUMPHREY'S  TOUR.  — 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Bel- 
gium. A  Short  Tour  in  J835.  By 
EL  Humphrey,  D.D.  2  vols.  12mo. 

Miss  MARTINEAU'S  WESTERN 
TRAVEL.— Retrospect  of  West- 
ern Travel.  By  Miss  Harriet 
Martineau.    2  vols.  12mo. 

Mrs.  MORRELL'S  NARRATIVE. 
— Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  the 
South  Seas,  in  1829-1831.  By 
Abby  Jane  Morrell.  12mo. 

KAY'S  CAFFRARIA.  —  Travels 
and  Researches  in  Caffraria  ;  de- 
scribing the  Character,  Customs, 
and  Moral  Condition  of  the  Tribes 
inhabiting  that  Portion  of  South- 
ern Africa.  By  Stephen  Kay. 
12mo.  Engravings. 

PYM'S  ADVENTURES.— Narra- 
tive of  Arthur  Gordon  Pym,  of 
Nantucket.  Comprising  the  De- 
tails of  a  Mutiny  and  Atrocious 
Butchery  on  board  the  American 
Brig  Grampus,  on  her  way  to  the 
South  Seas,  June,  1827.  12mo. 

Mrs.  TROLLOPE'S  PARIS.— Par- 
is and  the  Parisians,  in  1835.  By 
Frances  Trollope.  8vo.  Engra- 
vings. 

DE  KAY'S  TURKEY.— Sketches 
of  Turkey  in  1831  and  1832.  By 
an  American.   8vo.  Engravings. 

Mrs.  JAMESON'S  VISITS  AND 
SKETCHES.— Visits  and  Sketch- 
es at  Home  and  Abroad.  Inclu- 
ding the  "  Diary  of  an  Ennuy£e." 
By  Mrs.  Jameson.  2  vols.  12mo> 


APOSTLES  AND  EARLY  MAR- 
TYRS.—Lives  of  the  Apostles 
and  Early  Martyrs  of  the  Cnurch. 
18mo.  Engravings.  [Boys'  and 
Girls'  Library,  No.  1.] 

MARTYRS  OF  SCIENCE.— The 
Martyrs  of  Science  ;  or,  the  Lives 
of  Galileo,  Tycho  Brahe,  and 
Kepler.  By  Sir  David  Brewster. 
18mo.   [Family  Library,  No.  130.] 

DISTINGUISHED  FEMALES.— 
Sketches  of  the  Lives  of  Distin- 
guished Females.  By  an  Ameri- 
can Lady.  18mo.  With  Portrait 
[Family  Library,  No.  15.] 

TC. 

REED  AND  MATHESON'S  VIS- 
IT.—A  Narrative  of  the  Visit  te 
the  American  Churches,  by  the 
Deputation  from  the  Congrega- 
tional Union  of  England  and 
Wales.  By  Andrew  Reed,  D.D., 
and  James  Matheson,  D.D.  2 
vols.  12  mo. 

COLTON'S  FOUR  YEARS. — Four 
Years  in  Great  Britain.  By  Cal- 
vin Colton.  12mo. 

EMERSON'S  LETTERS.  —  Let- 
ters from  the  iEgean.  By  James 
Emerson.  8vo. 

INGRAHAM'S  SOUTH-WEST.— 
The  South-West.  By  a  Yankee. 
2  vols.  12mo. 

LATROBE'S  NORTH  AMERICA. 
—The  Rambler  in  North  Amerida. 
By  C.  J.  Latrobe.    2  vols.  12mo. 

LATROBE'S  MEXICO.— The 
Rambler  in  Mexico.  By  C.  J.  La- 
trobe. 12mo. 

COMMODORE  PORTER'S  LET- 
TERS.—Constantinople  and  its 
Environs.  In  a  Series  of  Letters, 
exhibiting  the  actual  State  of  the 
Manners,  Customs,  and  Habits  of 
the  Turks,  Armenians,  Jews,  and 
Greeks.  By  an  American  long 
resident  at  Constantinople.  2 
vols.  12mo. 

HOFFMAN'S  TOUR  IN  THE 
WEST.— A  Winter  in  the  West. 
By  a  New-Yorker.   2  vols.  12mo. 

ELLIS'S  POLYNESIAN  RE- 
SEARCHES. —  Polynesian  Re- 
searches, during  a  Residence  of 
nearly  eight  Years  in  the  Society 
and  Sandwich  Islands.  By  Will- 
iam Ellis.  4  vols.  12mo.  En- 
gravings. 

HEAD'S  HOME  TOUR.— A  Home 
Tour  through  the  Manufacturing 
Districts  of  England.  By  Sir  Geo. 
Head.  12mo. 

THINGS  AS  THEY  ARE.— 
Things  as  they  are  ;  or,  Notes  of 
a  Traveller  through  some  of  the 
Middle  and  Northern  States. 
12mo.  Engravings. 

FIDLER'S  TRAVELS.— Observa- 
tions on  Professions,  Literature, 
Manners,  and  Emigration  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  By 
Rev.  Isaac  Fidler.  12mo. 

Lieut.  COKE'S  TRAVELS.— A 
Subaltern's  Furlough.  Descrip- 
tive of  Scenery  in  Various  Parts 
of  the  United  States,  Upper  and 
Lower  Canada,  New-Brunswick, 
and  Nova  Scotia.  By  E.T.Coke, 
Lt.  45th  Regt.  British  Army.  2 
vols.  12mo. 


6 


Theological  Literature. 


OWEN'S  VOYAGES.— Narrative 
of  Voyages  to  Explore  the  Shores 
of  Africa,  Arabia,  and  Madagas- 
car; performed  under  the  Direc- 
tion of  Capt.  W.  F.  W.  Owen. 
R.N.   2  vols.  12mo. 

POLAR  SEAS  AND  REGIONS. 
— Narrative  of  Discoveiy  and  Ad- 
venture in  the  Polar  Seas  and  Re- 
gions :  with  Illustrations  of  their 
Climate,  Geology,  and  Natural 
History:  and  an  Account  of  the 
Whale-Fishery.  By  Professors 
Leslie  and  Jameson,  and  Hugh 
Murray,  Esq.  18mo.  Engravings. 
[Family  Library,  No.  14.] 

LIFE  BEFORE  THE  MAST.— 
Two  Years  before  the  Mast :  a 
Personal  Narrative  of  Life  at  Sea. 
By  R.  II.  Dana,  Jr.  18mo.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  No.  106.] 

ADVENTURE  IN  AFRICA.— 
Narrative  of  Discovery  and  Ad- 
venture in  Africa.  With  Illustra- 
tions of  the  Geology,  Mineralogy, 
and  Zoology.  By  Professor  Jame- 
son, James  Wilson,  Esq.,  and 
Hugh  Murray,  Esq.  Engravings. 
[Family  Library,  No.  16.] 

EARLY  VOYAGES.— Lives  and 
Voyages  of  Drake,  Cavendish,  and 
Dampier;  including  an  Introduc-. 
tory  View  of  the  Earlier  Discov- 
eries in  the  South  Sea,  and  the 
History  of  the  Bucaniers.  18dio. 
Portraits.  [Family  Library,  No. 
30.] 

THE  TOURIST. — The  Tourist,  or 
Pocket  Manual  for  Travellers  on 
the  Hudson  River,  the  Western 
Canal  and  Stage  Road  to  Niagara 
Falls,  down  Lake  Ontario  and  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  Montreal  and 
Quebec.    18mo.  Map. 

LANDERS'  TRAVELS  IN  AFRI- 
CA.— Journal  of  an  Expedition  to 
Explore  the  Course  and  Termina- 
tion of  the  Niger.  With  a  Narra- 
tive of  a  Voyage  down  that  River 
to  its  Termination.  By  Richard 
and  John  Lander.  2  vols.  18mo. 
With  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
brary, Nos.  35  and  36.] 

PARK'S  TRAVELS.  —  Life  and 
Travels  of  Mungo  Park..  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Fain.  Lib.,  No.  105.] 


LIVES  OF  TRAVELLERS.— 
Lives  of  Celebrated  Travellers. 
Bv  James  Augustus  St.  John.  3 
vols.  18mo.  [Family  Library,  Nos. 
38,  39,  and  40.] 

VOYAGES  TO  THE  NORTH- 
ERN COASTS  OF  AMERICA. 
— Historical  View  of  the  Progress 
of  Discovery  on  the  more  Northern 
Coasts  of  America.  By  P.  F.  Tyt- 
ler,  Esq.  With  Sketches  of  the 
Natural  History  of  the  North 
American  Regions.  By  James 
Wilson.  18mo.  With  Engra- 
vings.   [Family  Library,  No.  53.] 

HUMBOLDT'S  TRAVELS.— The 
Travels  and  Researches  of  Alex- 
ander Von  Humboldt ;  being  a 
Condensed  Narrative  of  his  Jour- 
neys in  the  Equinoctial  Regions 
of  America,  and  in  Asiatic  Rus- 
sia :  together  with  Analyses  of 
his  more  important  Investigations. 
By  W.  MacgiUivray,  A.M.  18mo. 
With  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
brary, No.  54.] 

VOYAGES  ROUND  THE 
WORLD.— Historical  Account  of 
the  Circumnavigation  of  the  Globe, 
and  of  the  Progress  of  Discovery 
in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  from  the 
Voyage  of  Magellan  to  the  Death 
of  Cook.  18mo.  With  Engra- 
vings.   [Family  Library,  No.  82.] 

PARRY'S  VOYAGES.  — Three 
Voyages  for  the  Discovery  of  a 
Northwest  Passage  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Pacific,  and  Narra- 
tive of  an  Attempt  to  reach  the 
North  Pole.  By  Sir  W.  E.  Parry, 
R.N.  2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Fam.  Library,  Nos.  107  and  108.] 

MUTINY  OF  THE  BOUNTY.— 
A  Description  of  Pitcairn's  Island 
and  its  Inhabitants.  With  an  Au- 
thentic Account  of  the  Mutiny  of 
the  Ship  Bounty,  and  of  the  Sub- 
sequent Fortunes  of  the  Muti- 
neers. By  John  Barrow.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  No.  31.] 

PERILS  OF  THE  SEA.— Perils  of 
the  Sea  ;  being  Authentic  Narra- 
tives of  Remarkable  and  Affecting 
Disasters  upon  the  Deep.  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Boys'  and  Girls'  Li- 
brary, No.  14.] 


LEWIS  and  CLARKE'S  TRAV- 
ELS.— Account  of  the  Expedition- 
of  Captains  Lewis  and  Clarke 
across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to 
the  Mouth  of  the  Columbia  River. 
Prepared  from  the  original  edi- 
tion, with  an  Introduction  and 
Notes,  containing  Notices  of  re- 
cent Travellers,  and  a  View  of  the 
present  Condition  of  Oregon  Ter- 
ritory. By  Archibald  M'Vickar. 
2  vols.  18mo. 

EXPEDITION  TO  THE  RUS- 
SIAN POLAR  SEA.— Narrative 
of  an  Expedition  to  the  Polar  Sea. 
Commanded  by  Lieut.,  now  Ad- 
miral Ferdinand  Wrangell,  of  the 
Russian  Imperial  Navy.  18mo. 
Map.    [Family  Library,  No.  148.] 

BRUCE'S  TRAVELS.— Life  and 
Adventures  of  Bruce,  the  African 
Traveller.  By  Major  Sir  Francis 
B.Head.  18mo.  Portrait.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  No.  128.] 

CAROLINE  WESTERLEY. 
—  Caroline  Westerley ;  or,  the 
Young  Traveller  from  Ohio.  By 
Mrs.  Almira  H.  L.  Phelps.  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Boys'  and  Girls' 
Library,  No.  16.] 

MAP  OF  THE  HUDSON  RIVER. 
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son River,  with  the  Post-roads  be- 
tween New-York  and  Albany. 

AMERICAN  ADVENTURE.— 
American  Adventure  by  Land  and 
Sea.  Being  Remarkable  Instan- 
ces of  Enterprise  and  Fortitude 
among  Americans ;  Indian  Cap- 
tures, Shipwrecks,  Adventures  at 
Home  and  Abroad.  By  Epes  Sar- 
gent.   2  vols.  18mo. 

VOYAGE  OF  THE  POTOMAC 
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tomac,  during  the  Circumnaviga- 
tion of  the  Globe,  in  the  Years 
1831, 1832, 1833,  and  1834.  By  J. 
N.  Reynolds.    8vo.  Engravings. 

MORRELL'S  VOYAGES.— Nar- 
rative of  Four  Years  to  the  South 
Sea,  North  and  South  Pacific 
Ocean,  Ethiopic  and  South  Atlan- 
tic Ocean,  Chinese  Sea}  and  An- 
tarctic Ocean.  1822-1831.  By 
Capt.  Benjamin  Morrell,  Jr.  8vo 
Portrait. 


BIBLICAL  AND  THEOLOGICAL  LITERATURE. 


SATTRIN'S  SERMONS.  —  Ser- 
mons of  the  Rev.  James  Saurin. 
Translated  from  the  French  by 
Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  Rev.  Henry 
Hunter,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  Joseph 
Sutcliffe.  A  New  Edition,  with 
Additional  Sermons.  Edited  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Burder  and  Rev.  J. 
P.  K.HensbawjD.D.  2vols.8vo. 
Portrait. 

BARNES'S  GOSPELS.  —  Notes, 
explanatory  and  practical,  on  the 
Gospels.  By  Albert  Barnes.  Re- 
vised and  Corrected.  2  vols.  12mo. 
Map  and  Engravings. 

BROWN'S  CONCORDANCE.— A 
Concordance  to  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments.  By  Rev.  J.  Brown.  32mo. 

WESLEY'S  MISCELLANEOUS 
WORKS.  —  The  Miscellaneous 
Works  of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley. 
3  vols.  8vo. 


ON  REVEALED  THEOLOGY. 

SUMMERFIELD'S  SERMONS.— 
Sermons,  by  the  Rev.  John  Sum- 
merfield.    8vo.    [In  Press.] 

BARNES'S  ACTS.— Notes,  explan- 
atory and  practical,  on  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles.  By  Albert  Barnes. 
12mo.  Map. 

BARNES'S  ROMANS.— Notes,  ex- 
planatory and  practical,  on  the 
Epistle  to  the  Romans.  By  Albert 
Barnes.  12mo. 

BARNES'S  FIRST  CORINTHI- 
ANS.—  Notes,  explanatory  and 
practical,  on  the  First  Epistle 
to  the  Corinthians.  By  Albert 
Barnes.  12mo. 

BARNES'S  SECOND  CORIN- 
THIANS, f.tc. — Notes,  explana- 
tory and  practical,  on  the  Second 
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Epistle  to  the  Galatians.  By  Al- 
bert Barnes.  i2mo. 


BARNES'S  QUESTIONS.— 5  vols. 
18mo.  Vol.  L  Questions  on  Mat- 
thew. Vol.  II.  Questions  on  Mark 
and  Luke.  Vol.  III.  Questions  on 
John.  Vol.  IV.  Questions  on  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Vol.  V. 
Romans.  [Each  volume  sold  sep- 
arately.] 

BROWN'S  BIBLE  DICTIONA- 
RY.— A  Dictionary  of  the  Holy 
Bible.  Containing  an  historical 
Account  of  the  Persons — a  geo- 
graphical and  historical  Account 
of  the  Places — a  Literal,  Critical, 
and  Systematical  Description  of 
other  Objects,  whether  Natural, 
Artificial,  Civil,  Religious,  or  Mil- 
itary— and  an  Explanation  of  the 
Appellative  Terms  mentioned  in 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  By 
the  Rev.  John  Brown.  With  a  Life 
of  the  Author,  and  an  Essay  on  the 
Evidences  of  Christianity.  8vo. 


Theological  Literature. — Medicine,  Surgery,  etc. 


7 


BALL'S  WORKS. — The  Complete 
Works  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Hull, 
A.M.   With  a  Brief  Memoir  of 


PALEY'S  NATURAL  THEOLO- 
GY.— Paley's  Natural  Theology. 
With  Illustrative  Notes,  <fec.  By 
Henry  Lord  Brougham,  F.R.S., 
and  Sir  Charles  Bell,  F.R.S.  To 
which  are  added,  Preliminary  Ob- 
servations and  Notes.  By  Alonzo 
Potter,  D.D.  2  vols.  18mo.  En- 
gravings. [Family  Library,  Nos. 
96  and  97.] 

TURNER'S  SACRED  HISTORY. 
—  The  Sacred  History  of  the 
World,  attempted  to  be  philosoph- 
ically considered,  in  a  Series  of 
Letters  to  a  Son.  By  Sharon  Tur- 
ner, F.S.A.  3  vols.  18mo.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  Nos.  32,  72,  and  84.] 


his  Life,  by  Dr.  Gregory,  and  Ob- 
servations on  his  Character  as  a 
Preacher,  by  the  Rev.  John  Fos- 

NATURAL  THEOLOGY. 

CHALMERS'S  TREATISE.— On 
the  Power,  Wisdom,  and  Good- 
ness of  God,  as  manifested  in  the 
Adaptation  of  External  Nature  to 
the  Moral  and  Intellectual  Con- 
stitution of  Man.  By  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Chalmers,  D.D.  12mo. 

BELL  ON  THE  HAND.  — The 
Hand,  its  Mechanism  and  Vital 
Bndowments,  as  evincing  Design. 
By  Sir  Charles  Bell,  F.R.S.  12mo. 
Engravings. 

WHEWELL'S  TREATISE.— As- 
tronomy and  General  Physics,  con- 
sidered with  reference  to  Natural 
Theology.  By  Rev.  Wm.  Whe- 
well.  18mo. 


ter.  Edited  by  Olinthus  Grego 
ry,  LL.D.  3  volumes  8vo.  Por- 
trait. 


DICK'S  CELESTIAL  SCENERY. 
— Celestial  Scenery  ;  or,  the  Won- 
ders of  the  Planetary  System  dis- 
played :  illustrating  the  Perfec- 
tions of  Deity,  and  a  Plurality  of 
Worlds.  By  Thomas  Dick,  LL.D. 
18mo.  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
brary, No.  83.] 

DICK'S  SIDEREAL  HEAVENS. 
— The  Sidereal  Heavens  and  other 
Subjects  connected  with  Astrono- 
my, as  illustrative  of  the  Charac- 
ter of  the  Deity,  and  of  an  Infinity 
of  Worlds.  By  Thomas  Dick, 
LL.D.  18mo.  Engravings.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  No.  99.] 


BIBLICAL  AND  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 


MOSHEIM'S  ECCLESIASTICAL 
HISTORY.— Institutes  of  Eccle- 
siastical History.  By  John  L.  Von 
Mosheim,  D.D.  A  New  and  Lit- 
eral Translation,  with  copious  ad- 
ditional Notes.  By  James  Mur- 
•dock,  D.D.   3  vols.  8vo. 

PRIDEAUX'S  CONNECTION.— 
The  Old  and  New  Testaments 
connected,  in  the  History  of  the 
Jews  and  Neighbouring  Nations, 
from  the  Declension  of  the  King- 
doms of  Israel  and  Judah  to  the 
Time  of  Christ.  By  Humphrey 
Prideaux,  D.D.    2  vols.  8vo. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  By 
Rev.  G.  R.  Gleig.  2  vols.  18mo. 
Maps.  [Fam.  Lib.,  Nos.  12  &  13.] 


MILMAN'S  CHRISTIANITY.  — 
History  of  Christianity,  from  the 
Birth  of  Christ  to  the  Abolition  of 
Paganism  in  the  Roman  Empire. 
By  Rev.  ft  ft  Milman.  8vo. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  JEWS.  By 
Rev.  H.  H.  Milman.  3  vols.  18mo. 
Maps,  &c.  [Family  Library,  Nos. 
1,  2,  and  3.] 

WADDINGTON'S  CHURCH  HIS- 
TORY.—A  History  of  the  Church, 
from  the  Earliest  Ages  to  the  Ref- 
ormation. By  the  Rev.  George 
Waddington,  A.M.  8vo. 

REFORMATION  IN  ENGLAND. 
— Life  of  Archbishop  Cranmer. 
By  Charles  Webb  Le  Bas.  2  vols. 
18mo.  Portrait. 


HAWKS'S  VIRGINIA  CHURCH 
HISTORY. — Narrative  of  Events 
connected  with  the  Rise  and  Prog- 
ress of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  Virginia.  By  F.  L. 
Hawks,  D.D.  8vo. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  REFORMA- 
TION.—Life  of  Wicliff.  By  C. 
Webb  Le  Bas.    18mo.  Portrait. 

LUTHERAN  REFORMATION.— 
Luther  and  the  Lutheran  Refor- 
mation. By  Rev.  John  Scott.  2 
vols.  18mo.  Portraits. 

REFORMATION  IN  FRANCE.— 
History  of  the  Reformed  Reli- 
gion in  France.  By  Rev.  Edward 
Smedley.  3  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 


EVIDENCES  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 


KEITH  ON  PROPHECY.— Evi- 
dence of  the  Truth  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion,  derived  from  the 
Literal  Fulfilment  of  Prophecy ; 
particularly  as  illustrated  by  the 
History  of  the  Jews,  and  by  the 
Discoveries  of  recent  Travellers. 
By  the  Rev.  Alex.  Keith.  12mo. 

HELP  TO  FAITH.— Help  to  Faith ; 
or,  a  Summary  of  the  Evidences 

JOHNSON'S  LECTURES.— Reli- 
gion in  its  Relation  to  the  Present 
Life.  In  a  Series  of  Lectures. 
By  A.  B.  Johnson.  18mo. 

ABERCROMBIE'S  ESSAYS.  — 
The  Harmony  of  Christian  Faith 
and  Christian  Character:  and, 
the  Culture  and  Discipline  of  the 
Mind.  By  John  Abercrombie, 
M.D.  18mo. 

THE  COMFORTER.— The  Com- 
forter; or,  Extracts  selected  for 
the  Consolation  of  Mourners  under 
the  Bereavement  of  Friends  and 
Relations.  By  a  Village  Pastor. 
12mo. 

PROTE  STANT  JE  SUITISM.  — 
Protestant  Jesuitism.  By  a  Prot- 
estant. 12mo. 


of  the  Genuineness,  Authenticity, 
Credibility,  and  Divine  Authority 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  By  Rev. 
P.  P.  Sandford.  12mo. 
UNCLE  PHILIP'S  EVIDENCES. 
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Uncle  Philip's  Conversations  with 
the  Children  about  the  Truth  of 
the  Christian  Religion.  18mo. 
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PRESIDENT  NOTT'S  AD- 
DRESSES.—Counsels  to  Young 
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ter, and  the  Principles  which  lead 
to  Success  and  Happiness  in  Life. 
By  Eliphalet  Nott,  D.D,  President 
of  Union  College.  18mo. 

BEAUTIES  OF  THE  BIBLE.— 

Beauties  of  the  Bible,  selected 
from  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments. With  various  Remarks 
and  brief  Dissertations.  Design- 
ed for  the  Use  of  Schools  and  the 
Improvement  of  Youth.  By  Ezra 
Sampson.    18mo.    [In  Press.] 

THE  CHURCH  INDEPENDENT 
OF  THE  STATE.  -Christianity 
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KEITH'S  DEMONSTRATION.— 
Demonstration  of  the  Truth  of  the 
Christian  Religion.  By  Alexan 
der  Keith,  D.D.  12ino.  Engra 
vings. 

CONSISTENCY  OF  REVELA- 
TION.—The  Consistency  of  Rev  • 
elation  with  Itself  and  with  Hu 
man  Reason.  By  Philip  Nicholas 
Shuttleworth.  18mo. 

PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS.  — Bun- 
yan's  Pilgrim's  Progress.  With 
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gravings  by  Adams. 

BUSH  ON  THE  MILLENNIUM. 
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amined, and  the  true  Scriptural 
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COLTON'S  RE  A.SONS — Thoughts 
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ton.  12mo. 


MEDICAL  AND  SURGICAL  SCIENCE. 


GOOD'S  STUDY  OF  MEDICINE. 
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John  Mason  Good,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 
Improved  from  the  Author's  Manu- 
scripts, and  by  reference  to  the 
latest  advances   in  Physiology, 


Pathology,  and  Practice.  By  Sam- 
uel Cooper,  M.D.  With  Notes. 
By  A.  Sidney  Doane,  A.M.,  M.D. 
To  which  is  prefixed,  a  Sketch  of 
the  History  of  Medicine  from  its 
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the  Nineteenth  Century.  By  J 
Bostock,  M.D.,  F.R.S.  2vols.8vo. 
SMITH  ON  EPIDEMICS.— Ele- 
ments of  the  Etiology  and  Philos- 
ophy of  Epidemics.  By  Joseph 
Mal'her  Smith,  M.D.  8vo. 


8 


Natural  Science, 


HOOPER'S  DICTIONARY. — Lei- 
icon  Medicum ;  or,  Medical  Dic- 
tionary. Containing  an  Explana- 
tion of  the  Terms  in  the  Various 
Branches  of  Science  connected 
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er, M.D.  With  Additions  from 
American  Authors.  By  Samuel 
Akerly,  M.D.  8vo. 

FERRIS  ON  CHOLERA.— A  Trea- 
tise on  Epidemic  Cholera.  By  F. 
T.  Ferris,  M.D.   8va  Plates. 

COOPER'S    DICTIONARY.  —  A 

Dictionary  of  Practical  Surgery: 
comprehending  all  the  most  Inter- 
esting Improvements — an  Account 
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employed  in  Surgery — the  Ety- 
mology and  Signification  of  the 
principal  Terms,  &c.  By  Samuel 
Cooper,  M.D.  With  numerous 
Notes  and  Additions,  derived  from 
the  Practice  of  American  Surgeons. 
By  David  M.  Reese,  M.D.  8to. 


DOANE'S  MAYGRIER.— Midwife- 
ry Illustrated.  By  J.  P.  Maygrier, 
M.D.  Translated  from  the  French, 
with  Notes.  By  A.  Sidney  Doane, 
A.M.,  M.D.  With  82  Plates.  8vo. 

DOANE'S  SURGERY.  —  Surgery 
Illustrated.  Compiled  from  the 
Works  of  Cutler,  Hind,  Velpeau, 
and  Blasius.  By  A.  Sidney  Doane, 
A.M.,  M.D.  With  52  Plates.  8vo. 

BAYLE'S  ANATOMY.— An  Ele- 
mentary Treatise  on  Anatomy.  By 
A.  L.  J.  Bayle,  M.D.  Translated 
from  the  French.  By  A.  Sidney 
Doane,  A.M.,  M.D.    18mo.  \ 

POPULAR  WORKS. 

COMBE  ON  HEALTH.— The 
Principles  of  Physiology  applied 
to  the  Preservation  of  Health,  and 
to  the  Improvement  of  Physical 
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drew Combe,  M.D.  From  the 
Sixth  Edinburgh  Edition.  18mo. 
Engravings.   [Fam.  Lib.,  No.  71.] 


COMBE  ON  DIETETICS.— The 

Physiology  of  Digestion  considered 
with  relation  to  the  Principles  of 
Dietetics.  By  Andrew  Combe, 
M.D.  18mo. 

JOHNSON  ON  HEALTH.— The 

Economy  of  Health ;  or,  the  Stream 
of  Human  Life  from  the  Cradle 
to  the  Grave.  With  Reflections, 
Moral,  Physical,  and  Philosophi- 
cal, on  the  Septennial  Phases  of 
Human  Existence.  By  James 
Johnson,  M.D.  18mo. 

INVALID'S  ORACLE. — Directions 
for  Invigorating  and  Prolonging 
Life  ;  or,  the  Invalid's  Oracle.  By 
William  Kitchiner,  M.D.  With 
Improvements,  by  T.  S.  Barrett, 
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TICKNOR  ON  LIVING. —The 
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forts. By  Caleb  Ticknor,  A.M., 
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GOOD'S  BOOK  OF  NATURE.— 
The  Book  of  Nature.  By  John 
Mason  Good,  M.D.,  F.R.S.  To 
which  is  prefixed,  a  Sketch  of  the 
Author's  Life.  8vo. 

NATURAL  MAGIC.  —Letters  on 
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Brewster.  18mo.  Engravings. 
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KANE'S  CHEMISTRY.— El- 
ements of  Chemistry:  including 
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Applications  of  the  Seicnce  to 
Medicine  and  Pharmacy,  and  to 
the  Arts.  By  Robert  Kane,  M.D. 
Edited,  with  Emendations  and  Ad- 
ditions, by  John  William  Draper, 
M.D.  With  about  250  Woodcuts. 
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REN  WICK'S  CHEMISTRY.  — 
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CHAPTAL'S  AGRICULTURAL 
CHEMISTRY.  —  Chemistry  ap- 
plied to  Agriculture.  By  M.  le 
Compte  Chaptal.  With  a  prelim- 
inary Chapter  on  the  Organiza- 
tion, Structure,  &c,  of  Plants,  by 
Sir  Humphrey  Davy.  And  an  Es- 
say on  the  Use  of  Lime  as  a  Ma- 
nure, by  M.  Puvis ;  with  Intro- 
ductory Observations  to  the  same, 
by  Professor  Renwick.  Trans- 
lated and  edited  by  Rev.  William 
P.  Page.  18mo. 


WHITE'S  NATURAL  HISTORY 

—  Natural  History  of  Selborne. 
By  Rev.  Gilbert  White.  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Family  Library, 
No.  147.] 

BIRDS.— Natural  History  of  Birds  ; 
their  Architecture,  Habits,  &c. 
18mo.  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
brary, No.  98.] 

QUADRUPEDS.— Natural  History 
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vings. [Family  Library,  No.  104.] 


NATURAL  SCIENCE. 

MUDIE'S  GUIDE-— Popular  Guide 
to  the  Observation  of  Nature  ;  or, 
Hints  of  Inducement  to  the  Study 
of  Natural  Productions  and  Ap- 
pearances, in  their  Connexions  and 
Relations.  By  Robert  Mudie. 
18rno.  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
brary, No.  57.] 

BUCKE'S  EEAUTIES  OF  NA- 
TURE.—The  Beauties,  Harmo- 

NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

DANIELL'S  PHILOSOPHY.— Fa- 
miliar Illustrations  of  Natural  Phi- 
losophy. Selected  principally  from 
Daniell's  Chemical  Philosophy. 
By  James  Renwick,  LL.D.  18mo. 
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HERSCHEL'S  PRELIMINARY 
DISCOURSE.  — A  Preliminary 
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ral Philosophy.  By  John  F.  W. 
Herschel.  12mo. 

EULER'S  LETTERS.— Letters  of 
Euler  on  different  Subjects  of 
Natural  Philosophy :  addressed  to 
a  German  Princess.  Translated 
by  Hunter.  With  Notes  and  a 
Life  of  Euler,  by  Sir  David  Brew- 
ster ;  and  additional  Notes,  by 
John  Griscom,  LL.D.  2  vols. 
18mo.  Engravings.  [Family  Li- 
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BOUCHARLAT'S  MECHANICS. 
—  An  Elementary  Treatise  on 
Mechanics.  Translated  from  the 
French  of  M.  Boucharlat.  With 
Additions  and  Emendations.  By 
Professor  Edward  H.  Courtenay. 
8vo.  Plates. 

NATURAL  HISTORY. 

THE  ELEPHANT.— The  Elephant 
as  he  exists  in  a  Wild  State,  and 
as  he  has  been  made  Subservient, 
in  Peace  and  in  War,  to  the  Pur- 
poses of  Man.  18mo.  Engravings. 

WYATT'S  CONCHOLOGY. — 
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to  the  System  laid  down  by  La- 
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by  De  Blainvillo.  Exemplified 
and  arranged  for  the  Use  of  Stu- 
dents.   By  Thomas  Wvatt,  M  A 


nies,  and  Sublimities  of  Nature. 
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ited by  Rev.  William  P.  Page. 
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PLEASURES  OF  SCIENCE.— 
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planck,  and  Alonzo  Potter,  D.D. 
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RENWICK'S  PRACTICAL  ME 

CHANICS.— Applications  of  the 
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MOSELEY'S  ILLUSTRATIONS. 
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well.  12mo. 

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Illustrated  by  thirty-six  Plate9, 
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Books  for  Schools ,  etc. 


9 


UNCLE  PHILIP'S  NATURAL 
HISTORY.  —  Natural  History  ; 
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GRISCOM'S  ANIMAL  MECHA- 
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miliar Exposition  of  the  Structure 


and  Functions  of  the  Human  Sys- 
tem. By  John  H.  Gri  scorn,  M.I). 
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COMBE'S  PHYSIOLOGY.— The 
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the  Improvement  of  Physical  and 
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COMBE  ON  DIGESTION.— The 
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BELL  ON  THE  HAND.  — The 
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Endowments,  as  evincing  Design. 
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LEE'S  GEOLOGY.— The  ElementB 

of  Geology  for  Popular  Use  ;  con- 
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Hy  Charlrt  A.  Lee,  M.D.  18mo. 
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HIGGINS  ON  THE  EARTH.- 

The  Earth  :  its  Physical  Condition 
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MENTAL  AND  MORAL  SCIENCE. 


UPHAM'S  MENTAL  PHILOSO- 
PHY.—Elements  of  Mental  Phi- 
losophy :  embracing  the  two  De- 
partments of  the  Intellect  and  the 
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as C.  Upham,  of  Bowdoin  College. 
2  vols.  12mo. 

UPHAM'S  ABRIDGMENT.— El- 
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UPHAM  ON  THE  WILL.— A  Phil- 
osophical and  Practical  Treatise 
on  the  Will.  By  Professor  Thom- 
as C.  Upham.  12mo. 

UPHAM  ON  DISORDERED 
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TOWNSHEND  ON  MESMERISM 
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SCHMUCKER'S  PSYCHOLOGY. 
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phy, on  the  Basis  of  Conscious- 
ness and  Common  Sense.  De- 
signed for  Colleges  and  Acade- 
mies. By  S.  S.  Schmucker,  D.D., 
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ABERCROMBIE'S  INTELLECT- 
UAL POWERS. — Inquiries  con- 
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By  John  Abercrombie,  M.D., 
F.R.S.  With  Questions.  18mo. 
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DYMOND'S  ESSAYS.— Essays  on 
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Jonathan  Dymond.  With  a  Pref- 
ace and  Notes  by  Rev.  George 
Bush.  8vo. 

ABERCROMBIE'S  MORAL 
FEELINGS.— The  Philosophy  of 
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Questions.  18mo.  [Family  Li- 
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FOR  COLLEGES,  SCHOOLS,  ETC. 

ANTHON'S  SERIES  OF  CLASSICAL  WORKS. 


LATIN  GRAMMAR,  PART  I.— 
First  Latin  Lessons,  containing 
the  most  important  Parts  of  the 
Grammar  of  the  Latin  Language, 
together  with  appropriate  Exer- 
cises in  the  translating  and  wri- 
ting of  Latin.  By  Charles  An- 
thon,  LL.D.  12mo. 

LATIN  GRAMMAR,  PART  II.— 
An  Introduction  to  Latin  Prose 
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Latin  Syntax.  By  Charles  An- 
thon,  LL.D.  12mo. 

LATIN  PROSODY.— A  System  of 
Latin  Prosody  and  Metre.  From 
the  best  Authorities,  Ancient  and 
Modern.  By  Charles  Anthon, 
LL.D.  12mo. 

ANTHON'S  CJESAR.  —  Cssar's 
Commentaries  on  the  Gallic  War ; 
and  the  First  Book  of  the  Greek 
Paraphrase  ;  with  English  Notes, 
critical  and  explanatory,  Plans  of 
Battles,  Sieges,  <fcc,  and  Histor- 
ical, Geographical,  and  Archaeo- 
logical Indexes.  By  Charles  An- 
thon, LL.D.  12mo.  Map,  Por- 
trait, &c. 

ANTHON'S  CICERO.  — Select 
Orations  of  Cicero.  With  English 
Notes,  critical  and  explanatory, 
.and  Historical,  Geographical,  and 
Legal  Indexes.  By  Charles  An- 
thon, LL.D.  A  new  Edition,  with 
Improvements.    12mo.  Portrait. 

ANTHON'S  SALLUST. — Sallust's 
Jugurthine  War  and  Conspiracy 


of  Catiline.  With  an  English 
Commentary,  and  Geographical 
and  Historical  Indexes.  By 
Charles  Anthon,  LL.D.  Ninth 
Edition,  corrected  and  enlarged. 
12mo.  Portrait. 
ANTHON'S  HORACE.— The 
Works  of  Horace.  With  English 
Notes,  critical  and  explanatory. 
By  Charles  Anthon,  LL.D.  New 
Edition,  with  Corrections  and  Im- 
provements. 12mo. 

GREEK  LESSONS,  PART  I.— 
First  Greek  Lessons,  containing 
the  most  important  Parts  of  the 
Grammar  of  the  Greek  Language, 
together  with  appropriate  Exer- 
cises in  the  translating  and  writing 
of  Greek,  for  the  Use  of  Beginners. 
By  Charles  Anthon,  LL.D.  12mo. 

GREEK  LESSONS,  PART  II.— 
An  Introduction  to  Greek  Prose 
Composition,  with  a  Complete 
Course  of  Exercfses  illustrative  of 
all  the  important  Principles  of 
Greek  Syntax.  By  Charles  An- 
thon, LL.D.  12mo. 

GREEK  GRAMMAR.— A  Gram- 
mar of  the  Greek  Language,  for 
the  Use  of  Schools  and  Colleges. 
By  Charles  Anthon,  LL.D.  12mo. 

JACOBS'S  GREEK  READER.— 
Greek  Reader.  Principally  from 
Jacobs.  With  English  Notes,  crit- 
ical and  explanatory,  a  Metrical 
Index  to  Homer  and  Anacreon,  and 
a  copious  Lexicon.  By  Charles 
Anthon,  LL.D.  12mo. 


GREEK  PROSODY.— A  System  of 
Greek  Prosody  and  Metre,  for  the 
Use  of  Schools  and  Colleges ;  to- 
gether with  the  Choral  Scanning 
of  the  Prometheus  Vinctus  of 
^Eschylus,  and  the  Ajax  and  G5di- 
pus  Tyrannus  of  Sophocles ;  to 
which  are  appended,  Remarks  on 
the  Indo-Germanic  Analogies.  By 
Charles  Anthon,  LL.D.  12mo 


ANTHON'S  CLASSICAL  DIC- 
TIONARY.— A  Classical  Diction- 
ary, containing  an  Account  of  the 
principal  Proper  Names  mentioned 
in  Ancient  Authors,  and  intend- 
ed to  elucidate  all  the  important 
Points  connected  with  the  Geog- 
raphy, History,  Biography,  My- 
thology, and  Fine  Arts  of  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  together 
with  an  Account  of  the  Coins, 
Weights,  and  Measures  of  the 
Ancients,  with  Tabular  Values  of 
the  same.  By  Charles  Anthon, 
LL.D.   Royal  8vo. 

DICTIONARY  OF  ANTIQUI- 
TIES.—A  Dictionary  of  Greek 
and  Roman  Antiquities,  from  the 
best  Authorities,  and  imbodying 
all  the  recent  Discoveries  of  the 
most  eminent  German  Philologists 
and  Jurists.  Illustrated  by  a  large 
number  of  Engravings.  First 
American  Edition,  corrected  and 
enlarged,  and  containing  also  nu- 
merous Articles  relative  to  the 
Botany,  Mineralogy,  and  Zoology 
of  the  Ancients.  By  Charles  An- 
thon, LL.D.   8vo,    [In  Press.] 


50 


Juvenile  Works. 


UPHAM'S  PHILOSOPHY. —  Ele- 
ments of  Mental  Philosophy.  By 
Thomas  C.  Upharn.    2  vols.  12mo. 

UPHAM'S  ABRIDGMENT.— El- 
ements of  Mental  Philosophy, 
abridged.  By  Thomas  C.  Upham. 
12mo. 

UPHAM  ON  THE  WILL. — Phil- 
osophical and  Practical  Treatise 
on  the  Will.  By  Thomas  C.  Up- 
ham. 12mo. 

UPHAM  ON  DISORDERED 
MENTAL  ACTION.—  Outlines 
of  Imperfect  and  Disordered  Men- 
tal Action.  By  Thomas  C.  Up- 
ham. ISmo. 

ABERCROMBIE'S  INTELLECT- 
UAL POWERS. — Inquiries  con- 
cerning the  Intellectual  Powers, 
and  the  Investigation  of  Truth. 
By  John  Abercrombie,  M.D.  With 
Questions.  18mo. 

ABERCROMBI E'S  MORAL 
FEELINGS. — The  Philosophy  of 
the  Moral  Feelings.  By  John 
Abercrombie,  M.D.  With  Ques- 
tions. 18mo. 

SCHMUCKER'S  MENTAL  PHI- 
LOSOPHY.—Psychology  ;  or,  El- 
ements of  anew  System  of  Mental 
Philosophy  on  the  Basis  of  Con- 
sciousness and  Common  Sense. 
By  S.  S.  Schmucker,  D.D.  12mo. 

CAMPBELL'S  RHETORIC. — The 
Philosophy  of  Rhetoric.  By  Geo. 
Campbell,'  D.D.,  F.R.S.  A  new 
Edition,  with  the  Author's  last 
Additions  and  Corrections.  8vo. 

POPULAR  TECHNOLOGY  ;  or, 
Professions  and  Trades  By  Ed- 
ward Hazen,  A.M.  Embellished 
with  81  Engravings.   2  vols.  18mo. 

LAWS  OF  PROPERTY.— Essays 
on  Property  and  Labour,  as  con- 
nected with  Natural  Law  and  the 
Constitution  of  Society.  By  Fran- 
cis Lieber,  LL.D.  With  an  Intro- 
duction by  Rev.  Dr.  Potter.  18mo. 

A  MANUAL  OF  CONCHOLOGY. 
By  T.Wyatt,  M.A.  Illustrated  by 
36  Plates,  containing  more  than 
200  Types  drawn  from  the  Nat- 
ural Shell.  8vo. 

GOLDSMITH'S  ROME.— History 
of  Rome.  Bv  Dr.  Goldsmith. 
Edited  by  H.  W.  Herbert.  16mo. 


THE  WORKS  OF  MRS.  SHER- 
WOOD. 15  vols.  12mo.  Engra- 
vings. [Sold  separately  or  in 
sets.] 

Vol.  L  The  History  of  Henry  Mil- 
ner,  parts  I.,  II.,  III. 

Vol.  II.  Fairchild  Family. — Orphans 
of  Normandy.— The  Latter  Days. 

Vol.  III.  Little  Henry  and  his  Bear- 
er.— Lucy  and  her  Dhaye. — Me- 
moirs of  Sergeant  Dale,  his  Daugh- 
ter, and  the  Orphan  Mary. — Susan 
Gray. —  Lucy  Clare. —  Hedge  of 
Thorns.— The  Recaptured  Negro. 
—Susannah ;  or,  the  Three  Guar- 
dians.— Theophilus  and  Sophia. — 
Abdallah.  the  Merchant  of  Bagdad. 

Vol.  IV.  The  Indian  Pilgrim.— The 
Broken  Hyacinth.  —  The  Little 
Woodman.— The  Babes  in  the 
Wood  of  the  New  World. — Clara 
Stephens. — The  Golden  Clew. — 
Katharine  Seward. — Mary  Anne. 
—The  Iron  Cage— Tne  Little 
Beggars. 


1  A  LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON,  IN 
LATIN  PROSE.  Bv  Francis 
Glass,  A.M.,  of  Ohio.  Edited  by  J. 
N.  Reynolds.    12mo.  Portrait. 

PALEY'S  NATURAL  THEOLO- 
GY.—Paley's  Natural  Theology. 
With  Notes,  by  Lord  Brougham, 
Sir  Charles  Bell,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Potter.  2  vols.  18mo.  Engravings. 

DANIELL'S  PHILOSOPHY.— Fa- 
miliar Illustrations  of  Natural 
Philosophy.  Selected  principally 
from  Darnell's  Chemical  Philoso- 
phy. By  James  Renwick,  LL.D. 
18mo.  Engravings. 

HISTORY  OF  PHILOSOPHY.— 
History  of  Philosophy :  being  the 
Work  adopted  by  the  University 
of  France  for  Use  iu  Colleges  and 
High-Schools.  Translated,  edit- 
ed, and  continued  by  Rev.  C.  S. 
Henry,  D.D.    2  vols.  18mo. 

REN  WICK'S  CHEMISTRY.— 
First  Principles  of  Chemistry  ;  be- 
ing a  Familiar  Introduction  to  the 
Study  of  that  Science,.  By  James 
Renwick,  LL.D.  With  Ques- 
tions.   18mo.  Engravings. 

RENWICK'S  PRACTICAL  ME- 
CHANICS.—Applications  of  the 
Science  of  Mechanics  to  Practical 
Purposes.  By  James  Renwick, 
LL.D.    18mo.  Engravings. 

BOUCHARLAT'S  MECHANICS. 
— Elementary  Treatise  on  Me- 
chanics. Translated  from  the 
French  of  M.  Boucharlat,  and 
amended  by  Professor  E.  H.  Cour- 
tenay.    8vo.  Plates. 

LEE'S  GEOLOGY.— Elements  of 
Geology,  with  a  Description  of  the 
Geological  and  Mineral  Resources 
of  the  United  States.  By  Charles 
A.  Lee,  M.D.  18mo. 

GRISCOM'S  ANIMAL  MECHA- 
NISM.—  Animal  Mechanism  and 
Physiology ;  being  a  Plain  and 
Familiar  Exposition  of  the  Struc- 
ture and  Functions  of  the  Human 
System.  Designed  for  Families 
and  Schools.  By  John  H.  Griscom, 
M.D.    18mo.  Engravings. 

TYTLER'S  UNIVERSAL  HISTO- 
RY.— Universal  History  from  the 
Creation  of  the  World  to  1620. 
By  Hon.  Alex.  Fraser  Tytler  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Nares.   6  vols.  18mo. 

JUVENILE  WORKS. 

Vol.  V.  The  Infant's  Progress.— The 
Flowers  of  the  Forest.— Juliana 
Oakley.— Ermina.— Emancipation. 

Vol.  VI.  The  Little  Female  Acade- 
my—The Little  Momiere.— The 
Stranger  at  Home.  —  Pere  la 
Chaise.— English  Mary.— My  Un- 
cle Timothy. 

Vol.  VII.  The  Nun.  —  Intimate 
Friends. — My  Aunt  Kate. — Em- 
meline.— Obedience.— The  Gipsy 
Babes.— The  Basket-maker.— The 
Butterfly. —  Alune. —  Procrastina- 
tion.— The  Mourning  Queen. 

Vol.  VIII.  Victoria. — Arzoomund. — 
The  Birthday  Present.— The  Er- 
rand Boy.— The  Orphan  Boy.— 
The  Two  Sisters.— Julian  Perci- 
val.— Edward  Mansfield.— The  In- 
firmary.— Mrs.  Catharine  Craw- 
ley.—  Joan ;  or,  Trustworthy. — 
The  Young  Forester  —The  Bitter 
Sweet. — Common  Errors. 

Vols.  IX.,  X.,  XL,  and  XII.  The 
Lady  of  the  Manor 


COMBE'S  PHYSIOLOGY.— Th« 
Principles  of  Physiology  applied 
to  the  Preservation  of  Health,  and 
the  Improvement  of  Physical  and 
Mental  Education.  By  Andrew 
Combe,  M.D.  With  Questions. 
18mo.  Engravings. 

AMERICAN  HISTORY.  —  Tales 
from  American  History.  By  the 
Author  of  "  American  Popular 
Lessons."  With  Questions.  3 
vols.  18mo.  Engravings. 

GOLDSMITH'S  GREECE.— His- 
tory of  Greece.  By  Dr.  Goldsmith 
Edited  by  the  Author  of  "  Ameri- 
can Popular  Lessons."  18mo. 

ROBERTSON'S  AMERICA. 
— History  of  the  Discovery  and 
Settlement  of  America.  By  Wil- 
liam Robertson,  D.D.  WithQues- 
tions.  8vo. 

ROBERTSON'S  CHARLES  V.— 
History  of  the  Reign  of  the  Em- 
peror Charles  V.  By  Wm.  Robert- 
son, D.D.  With  Questions.  8vo. 

POTTER'S  POLITICAL  ECONO- 
MY.— Political  Economy:  its  Ob- 
jects, Uses,  and  Principles :  con- 
sidered with  reference  to  the  Con- 
dition of  the  American  People. 
With  a  Summary  for  the  Use  of 
Students.  By  A.  Potter,  D.D. 
18mo. 

KEIGHTLEY'S  ENGLAND.— 
History  of  England,  from  the  Ear- 
liest Period  to  1839.  By  Thomas 
Keightley.  With  Notes,  &c,  by 
an  American.    5  vols.  18mo. 

MONTGOMERY'S  LECTURES. 
— Lectures  on  General  Literature, 
Poetry,  &c.  By  James  Montgom- 
ery. 18mo. 

PAULDING'S  WASHINGTON.—  I 
Life  of  Washington.   By  Jamea 
K.  Paulding.    2  vols.  18mo. 

MAURY  ON  ELOQUENCE.— 
Principles  of  Eloquence.  By  the 
Abbe  Maury.  Edited  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Potter.  18mo. 

%*  Many  other  works,  suitable  for 
use  as  text-books,  &c,  and  alrea- 
dy largely  introduced  into  schools, 
colleges,  and  academies,  may  be 
found  under  the  heads  of  History, 
Biography,  Natural  Science,  and 
Mental  and  Moral  Science. 


Vol.  XIII.  The  Mail-coach.— My 
Three  Uncles.— The  Old  Lady's 
Complaint. — The  Hours  of  Infan- 
cy.— The    Shepherd's  Fountain. 

—  Economy. — "  Hoc  Age." —  Old 
Things  and  New  Things. —  The 
Swiss  Cottage. — Obstinacy  Pun- 
ished.— The  Infant's  Grave. — The 
Father's  Eye.— The  Red  Book. 

—  Dudley  Castle.— The  Happy 
Grandmother. — The  Blessed  Fam- 
ily.—My  Godmother.— The  Useful 
Little  Girl. — Caroline  Mordaunt. 
— Le  Fevre— The  Penny  Tract. 

—  The  Potter's  Common. —  The 
China  Manufactory. — Emily  and 
her  Brothers. 

Vol.  XIV.  The  Monk  of  Cimies.— 
The  Rosary;  or,  Ros6e  of  Mon 
treux.— The  Roman  Baths.— Saint 
Hospice.— The  Violet  Leaf.— The 
Convent  of  St.  Clair. 

Vol.  XV.  The  History  of  Henry  Mil- 
ner,  part  IV. — Sabbaths  on  the 
Continent.— The  Idler. 


Juvenile  Works. — Poetry. 


11 


THE  JUVENILE  WORKS  OF 
MARIA  EDGE  WORTH.  5  vols. 
12mo.  Engravings.  [Sold  sep- 
arately.] 
Frank.  12mo.  Engravings. 
Rosamond.  12mo.  Engravings. 
Harry  and  Lucy.    2  vols.  12ino. 

Engravings. 
The  Parent's  Assistant.  12mo. 
Engravings. 
TALES,  BY  MISS  SEDGWICK. 
^  vols,  18mo.    [Sold  separately.] 
#The  Poor  Rich  Man  and  the  Rich 
Poor  Man.  18mo. 
Live  and  let  Live  ;  or,  Domestic 
Service  illustrated.  18mo. 


BOYS' AND  GIRLS' LIBRARY.— 
32  vols.  18mo.  Numerous  Engra- 
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No.  1. — Lives  of  Apostles  and  Early 
Martyrs.    18mo.  Engravings. 

2,  3. — The  Swiss  Family  Robinson ; 
or,  Adventures  of  a  Father  and 
Mother  and  Four  Sons  on  a  Desert 
Island.  2  volumes  18mo.  Engra- 
vings. 

4, 13, 18. — Sunday  Evenings.  [Com- 
prising Scripture  Stories.]  3  vols. 
18mo.  Engravings. 

5-— The  Son  of  a  Genius.  By  Mrs. 
Hofland.    18mo.  Engravings. 

6.  — Uncle  Philip's  Natural  History  ; 
or,  Conversations  about  Tools  and 
Trades  among  the  Inferior  Ani- 
mals.   18mo.  Engravings. 

7,  8.— Indian  Traits  ;  or,  Sketches 
of  the  Manners,  Customs,  and 
Character  of  the  North  American 
Natives.  By  B.  B.  Thatcher.  2 
vols.  18mo.  Engravings. 

9,  10,  11.— Tales  from  American 
History.  By  the  Author  of  "  Ainer- 


6HAKSPEARE,  8vo.— The  Dra- 
matic Works  and  Poems  of  Wil- 
liam Shakspeare.  With  Notes,  ori- 
ginal and  selected,  and  Introducto- 
ry Remarks  to  each  Play,  by  Sam- 
uel Weller  Singer,  and  a  Life  of 
the  Poet,  by  Charles  Symmons, 
D.D.    8vo.  Engravings. 

SHAKSPEARE,  12mo.— The  Dra- 
matic Works  of  William  Shaks- 
peare. With  the  Corrections  and 
Illustrations'  of  Dr.  Johnson,  G. 
Steevens,  an?l  others.  Revised 
by  Isaac  Reed,  Esq.  In  6  vols, 
roval  12mo.  Engravings.  Large 
Type. 

BRYANT'S  POEMS.— Poems.  By 
William  Cullen  Bryant.  12mo. 
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MRS.  SIGOURNEY'S  POEMS. — 
Pocahontas,  and  other  Poems. 
By  Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney.  12mo. 
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HALLECK'S  FANNY.— Fanny, 
with  other  Poems.  By  Fitz- 
Greene  Halleck.  12mo.  Vignette. 

HALLECK'S  POEMS. —Poems. 
By  Fitz-Greene  Halleck.  12mo. 
[In  Press.] 

POWHATAN.  A  Metrical  Ro- 
mance.   By  Seba  Smith. 

BRYANT^  AMERICAN  POETS. 
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Bv  W.  C.  Bryant.  18mo.  [Fam- 
ily Library,  No.  111.] 

VELA  SCO :  a  Tragedy.  By  Epes 
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A  Love-Token  for  Children.  18mo. 
Stories  for  Young  Persons.  18mo. 

FAIRY  STORIES.— The  Fairy- 
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PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS.  With  a 
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50  Engravings  by  Adams.  12mo. 

EVENINGS  AT  HOME;  or,  the 
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Aikin  and  Mrs.  Barbauld.  With 
34  Engravings  by  Adams.  16mo. 

A  HIEROGLYPHICAL  BIBLE. 
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ican  Popular  Lessons."   3  vols. 
18mo.  Engravings. 
12. — The  Young  Crusoe  ;  or,  the 
Shipwrecked  Boy.    By  Mrs.  Hof- 
land.   18ino.  Engravings. 

14.  — Perils  of  the  Sea;  being  Au- 
thentic Narratives  of  Remarkable 
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Deep.    18mo.  Engravings. 

15.  — Sketches  of  the  Lives  of  Dis- 
tinguished Females.  By  an  Amer- 
ican Lady.    18mo.  Engravings. 

16.  — Caroline  Westerley  ;  or,  the 
Young  Traveller  from  Ohio.  By 
Mrs.  A.  H.  L.  Phelps.  18mo.  En- 
gravings 

17.  — The  Clergyman's  Orphan ;  The 
Infidel  Reclaimed ;  and  Jane  Clark, 
the  Orphan.  By  a  Clergyman. 
18mo  Engravings. 

19.  — The  Ornaments  Discovered 
By  Mrs.  Hughs.  18mo.  Engra- 
vings. 

20.  — Uncle  Philip's  Evidences  of 
Christianity ;  or,  Conversations 
about  the  Truth  of  the  Christian 
Religion.    18mo.  Engravings. 

POETRY. 

HALLECK'S  BRITISH  POETS.— 
Selections  from  British  Poets.  By 
Fitz-Greene  Halleck.  2  vols.  18mo. 
[Family  Library,  Nos.  112  and 
113.] 

MASSlNGER'S  PLAYS.— The 
Plays  of  Philip  Massinger.  Adapt- 
ed for  Family  Reading,  and  the 
Use  of  Young  Persons,  by  the 
Omission  of  objectionable  Passa- 
ges.   3  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 

FORD'S  PLAYS.— The  Dramatic 
Works  of  John  Ford.  Adapted 
for  Family  Reading.  2  vols.  18mo. 

BROOKS'  POEMS.— The  Rivals 

of  Este,  and  other  Poems.  By 

James  G.  Brooks  and  Mary  E. 

Brooks.  12mo. 
THE  DOOM  OF  DEVORGOIL :  a 

Melodrama.    With  Auchindrane ; 

or,  the  Ayrshire  Tragedy.  By 

Sir  Walter  Scott.  12mo. 
RICHELIEU  ;  or,  the  Conspiracy. 

A  Play.    With  Historical  Odes. 

By  Sir  E.  L.  Bulwer.  12mo. 
THE  LADY  OF  LYONS  ;  or,  Love 

and  Pride.    A  Play.   By  Sir  E.  L. 

Bulwer.  12mo. 
THE  REBEL,  and  other  Tales. 

By  Sir  E.  L.  Bulwer.  12mo. 
THE  SEA-CAPTAIN;  or,  the 

Birthright.    A  Play.    By  Sir  E. 

L.  Bulwer.  12mo. 
BLANCHE  OF  NAVARRE.  A 

Play.    By  G.  P.  R.  James,  Esq. 

12mo. 


LIFE  OF  CHRIST.— The  Life  of 
Christ,  in  the  Words  of  the  Evan- 
gelists. Forming  a  complete  Har- 
mony-of-the-Gospel  History  of  our 
Saviour.  With  30  Engravings  by 
Adams.  16mo. 

WEALTH  AND  WORTH  ;  or, 
Which  makes  the  Man  ?  18mo. 

ROXOBEL.  By  Mrs.  Sherwood. 
3  vols.  18mo. 

ROBINSON  CRUSOE.  —  Defoe's 
Robinson  Crusoe,  entire.  With  a 
Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Defoe.  Il- 
lustrated by  fifty  Engravings  by 
Adams.  12mo. 


21.  — Uncle  Philip's  History  of  Vir- 
ginia.   18mo.  Engravings. 

22.  — The  American  Forest ;  or,  Un- 
cle Philip's  Conversations  about 
the  Trees  of  America.  18mo. 
Engravings. 

23.  24.— Uncle  Philip's  History  of 
New-York.  2  vols.  18mo.  Eng's. 

25.  — Tales  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. By  B.  B.  Thatcher.  18mo. 
Engravings. 

26,  27.— Uncle  Philip's  Account  of 
the  Whale-Fishery  and  the  Polar 
Seas.    2  vols.  18mo.  Engravings. 

28.  — Uncle  Philip's  History  of  the 
Lost  Colony  of  Greenland.  18ino. 
Engravings. 

29,  30.— Uncle  Philip's  History  of 
Massachusetts.  2  vols.  18mo. 
Engravings. 

31,  32.— Uncle  Philip's  History  of 
New-Hampshire.  2  vols.  18mo. 
Engravings. 

*+*  A  great  number  of  works  suita- 
ble for  youth  may  be  found  in  the 
"  Family  Library,"  which  see. 


THE  SIAMESE  TWINS.  A  Sa- 
tirical Tale  of  the  Times.  And 
other  Tales.  By  Sir  E.  L.  Bul- 
wer. 12mo. 

VIRGIL.  The  Eclogues  translated 
by  Wrangham  ;  the  Georgics  by 
Sotheby  ;  and  the  iEneid  by  Dry- 
den.  2  vols.  18mo.  Portrait.  [Clas- 
sical Library,  Nos.  11  and  12.] 

J2SCHYLUS.— The  Tragedies 
of  iEschylus.  Translated  by  Rev. 
R.  Potter.  M.A.  To  which  is  pre- 
fixed, An  Essay  on  the  Grecian 
Drama.  18mo.  [Classical  Libra- 
ry, No.  13.] 

SOPHOCLES.— The  Tragedies  of 
Sophocles.  Translated  by  Thom- 
as Francklin,  D.D.  18mo.  Por- 
trait.   [Classical  Library,  No.  14.] 

OVID. — The  Metamorphoses  and 
Epistles  of  Ovid.  Translated  by 
Dryden,  Pope,  Addison,  Congreve, 
and  others.  2  vols.  18mo.  Por- 
trait. [Classical  Library,  Nos. 
20  and  21.] 

HORACE  and  PH^DRUS.— The 
Odes,  Satires,  and  Epistles  of  Hor- 
ace, translated  by  Philip  Francis, 
D.D.  With  Versions  of  various 
Odes,  by  Milton,  Dryden,  Pope, 
Addison,  Byron,  and  otheis.  To 
which  are  appended,  The  Fables 
of  Phsedrus  ;  with  the  Appendix 
of  Gudius.  Translated  by  Chris- 
topher Smart,  A.M.  2  vols.  18m>> 
Portrait.  [Classical  Library,  No' . 
18  and  19.] 


12 


Miscellaneous. 


EURIPIDES.  —  The  Tragedies  of 
Euripides.  Translated  by  the 
Rev.  R.  Potter,  M.A.  3  vols.  18mo. 
Portrait.  [Classical  Library,  Nos. 
15,  16,  and  17.] 

HOMER.— The  Iliad  and  the  Odys- 
sey of  Homer.  Translated  by 
Alexander  Pope.  3  vols.  18mo. 
Portrait.  [Classical  Library,  Nos. 
32,  33,  and  34.] 


BURKE'S  WORKS. —  The  com- 
plete Works  of  Edmund  Burke. 
With  a  Memoir.  3  vols.  8vo. 
Portrait. 

ADDISON'S  WORKS.— The 
Works  of  Joseph  Addison.  In- 
cluding "  The  Spectator"  entire. 
3  vols.  8vo.  Portrait. 

DRYDEN'S  WORKS.— The 
Works  of  John  Dryden.  With  a 
Memoir.    2  vols.  8vo.  Portrait. 

HANNAH  MORE'S  WORKS,  8vo. 
— The  Works  of  Hannah  More 
8vo.  Engravings. 

HANNAH  MORE'S  WORKS, 
12mo.— The  same  work,  printed 
from  large  type.  7  vols,  royal 
12mo. 

LAMB'S  WORKS. —  The  Works 
of  Charles  Lamb.  With  his  Let- 
ters, and  a  Sketch  of  his  Life,  by 
Thomas  Noon  Talfourd.  2  vols, 
royal  12mo.  Portrait. 

MACKENZIE'S  WORKS.  — The 
Works  of  Henry  Mackenzie.  Com- 
plete in  one  volume  royal  12mo. 
Portrait. 

CHESTERFIELD'S  WORKS.— 
The  Works  of  Lord  Chesterfield. 
Including  his  Letters  to  his  Son, 
complete.    With  a  Memoir.  8vo. 

SANDS'S  WORKS. —  The  Wri- 
tings of  Robert  C.  Sands.  With  a 
Memoir.    2  vols.  8vo.  Portrait. 

NEELE'S  REMAINS.— The  Liter- 
ary Remains  of  the  late  Henry 
Neele.  8vo. 


ENGLISH  SYNONYMES  explain- 
ed. With  copious  Illustrations 
and  Explanations,  drawn  from  the 
best  Writers.  Bv  George  Crabbe, 
M.A.  8vo. 

CAMPBELL'S  RHETORIC— The 
Philosophy  of  Rhetoric.  By  Geo. 
Campbell,  D.D.,  F.R.S.  With 
the  Author's  last  Additions  and 
Corrections.  8vo. 

MAURY  ON  ELOQUENCE.— The 
Principles  of  Eloquence.  By  the 
Abbe  Maury.  With  an  Introduc- 
tion by  Rev.  Dr.  Potter.  18mo. 

JOHNSON  ON  LANGUAGE.— A 
Treatise  on  Language  ;  or,  the 
Relations  which  Words  bear  to 
Things.    By  A.  B.  Johnson.  8vo. 

MONTGOMERY'S  LECTURES. 
— Lectures  on  General  Literature, 
Poetry,  &c.  Bv  James  Montgom- 
ery.   18rno.    [Fam.  Lib.,  No.  64.] 

CICERO.  The  Orations  translated 
by  Duncan  ;  the  Offices  by  Cock- 
man  ;  and  the  Cato  and  Lselius  by 
Melmoth.  3  vols.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Classical  Library,  Nos.  8,  9,  and 
10.] 

DEMOSTHENES.  — The  Orations 
of  Demosthenes.  Translated  by 
Thomas  Leland,  D.D.    2  vols. 


PINDAR  and  ANACREON.— The 
Odes  of  Pindar.  Translated  by 
Rev.  C.  A.  Wheelwright.  To 
which  are  added,  The  Odes  of 
Anacreon.  Translated  by  Thom- 
as Bourne.  18mo.  Portrait. 
[Classical  Library,  No.  36]. 

JUVENAL  and  PERSIUS.— The 
Satires  of  Juvenal.  Translated 
by  Charles  Badham,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

18mo.  Portrait.  [Classical  Li- 
brary, Nos.  3  and  4.] 

The  FARMER'S  INSTRUCTER  ; 
consisting  of  Essays,  Practical  Di- 
rections, and  Hints  for  the  Man- 
agement of  the  Farm  and  the  Gar- 
den. By  Jesse  Buel.  2  vols.  18mo. 

ARMSTRONG'S  AGRICUL- 
TURE.—A  Treatise  on  Agricul- 
ture ;  comprising  a  Concise  His- 
toiy  of  its  Origin  and  Progress  ; 
the  Present  Condition  of  the  Art 
abroad  and  at  Home,  and  the  The- 
ory and  Practice  of  Husbandry. 
By  Gen.  John  Armstrong.  With 
Notes  by  Jesse  Buel.  18mo. 

AMERICAN  HUSBANDRY;  be- 
ing a  Series  of  Essays,  <fec,  de- 
signed for  its  Improvement.  Edit- 
ed by  Willis  Gay  lord  and  Luther 
Tucker.   2  vols.  18mo. 

AGRICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY. 
— Chemistry  applied  to  Agricul- 
ture. By  M.  le  Compte  Chaptal. 
With  valuable  Selections  from 
Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  M.  Puvis, 
and  others.  Translated  and  ed- 
ited by  Rev.  William  P.  Page. 
18mo. 


DEMOCRACY.  By  George  Sidney 
Camp.  18mo.  [Family  Library, 
No.  138.] 

PROPERTY  AND  LABOUR. — Es- 
says on  Property  and  Labour,  as 
connected  with  Natural  Law  and 
the  Constitution  of  Society.  By 
Francis  Lieber.  With  a  Prelimi- 
nary Essay  by  Rev.  Dr.  Potter. 
18mo.   [Family  Library,  No.  146.] 

POLITICAL  ECONOMY.  Its  Ob- 
jects Stated  and  Explained,  and 
its  Principles  familiarly  and  prac- 
tically illustrated.  By  Rev.  Dr. 
Potter.  18mo. 

PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE  ECON- 
OMY. Illustrated  by  Observa- 
tions made  in  Europe  in  1836-7. 
By  Theodore  Sedgwick.  3  vols. 
12mo. 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  By  James  K.  Paul- 
ding. 18mo. 

ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA.  A 
Comparison  of  the  Social  and  Po- 
litical State  of  both  Nations.  By 
Edward  Gibbon  Wakefield.  8vo. 

ENGLAND  AND  THE  ENGLISH. 
By  Sir  E.  Lytton  Bulwer.  2  vols. 
12mo. 

BULWER'S  FRANCE.  — France; 
Social,  Literary,  and  Political.  By 
H.  L.  Bulwer.   2  vols.  12mo. 

NOTT'S  ADDRESSES.— Counsels 
to  Young  Men  on  the  Formation 
of  Character,  and  the  Principles 
which  lead  to  Success  and  Happi- 
ness in  Life.  By  Eliphalet  Nott, 
D.D  18mo 


With  an  Appendix,  containing 
Imitations  of  the  Third  and  Tenth 
Satires,  by  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson. 
To  which  are  appended,  The  Sa- 
tires of  Persius.  Translated  by 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  W.  Drummond. 
18mo.  Portrait.  [Classical  Li- 
brary, No.  35.] 
DRAMATIC  SCENES  from  Real 
Life.   By  Lady  Morgan.  12mo. 


LETTERS  TO  YOUNG  LADIES. 
By  Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney.  12mo. 

LETTERS  TO  MOTHERS.  By 
Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney.  ]2mo. 

DOMESTIC  DUTIES  ;  or,  Instruc- 
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THE  FAMILY  INSTRUCTER  ; 
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of  Domestic  Life.  By  a  Parent. 
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THE  PERCY  ANECDOTES.  To 
which  is  added,  a  Selection  of 
American  Anecdotes.  8vo.  With 
Portraits. 

ANECDOTICAL  OLIO.  —  Anec- 
dotes, Literary,  Moral,  Religious, 
and  Miscellaneous.  Compiled  by 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hoes  and  Way. 
8vo. 

PARLOUR  MELODIES:  compri- 
sing a  Selection  of  popular  Music 
for  the  Pianoforte  and  Organ. 
Adapted  to  a  Series  of  Sacred  and 
Moral  Songs  written  for  the  Work. 
By  Mrs.  M.  B.  Lloyd  and  Miss  M. 
E.  Bailey.  4to. 

PRACTICAL  EDUCATION.  By 
Richard  Lovell  Edgeworth  and 
Maria  Edgeworth.  12mo.  En- 
gravings. 

DICK  ON  SOCIETY.— On  the  Im- 
provement of  Society  by  the  Diffu- 
sion of  Knowledge.  By  Thomas 
Dick,  LL.D.  18mo. 

PERILOUS  ADVENTURES  ;  or, 
Remarkable  Instances  of  Courage, 
Perseverance,  and  Suffering.  By 
R.  A.  Davenport.  18mo. 

WOMAN  IN  AMERICA  ;  being  an 
Examination  into  the  Moral  and 
Intellectual  Condition  of  American 
Female  Society.  By  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Graves.  18mo. 

WIRT'S  BRITISH  SPY.— Letters 
of  the  British  Spy.  By  William 
Wirt.  To  which  is  prefixed,  a  Bi 
ographical  Sketch  of  the  Author 
12mo.  Portrait. 

INFANTRY  TACTICS  ;  or,  Rules 
for  the  Exercise  and  Manoeuvres 
of  the  United  States'  Infantry. 
By  Major-general  Scott,  U.S.A. 
[Published  by  Authority.]  3  vols. 
24mo.  Plates. 

COLERIDGE'S  TABLE-TALK.— 
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the  late  Samuel  Taylor  Coleridge. 
12r..o. 

FESTIVALS,  Games,  and  Amuse- 
ments, Ancient  and  Modern.  By 
Horatio  Smith.  With  Additions 
by  Samuel  Woodworth.  18mo. 
Engravings.  [Family  Library,  No 
25.] 


Family  Library* 


13 


MINIATURE  LEXICON  of  the 
English  Language.  By  Lyman 
Cobb.    48mo.  Portrait. 

COLERIDGE'S  LETTERS,  Ac- 
Letters,  Conversations,  and  Rec- 
ollections of  the  late  S.  T.  Cole- 
ridge. 12mo. 

DEMONOLOGY,  <fec  — Letters  on 
Demonology  and  Witchcraft.  By 
Sir  Walter  Scott.  18ino.  Engra- 
ving.   [Family  Library,  No.  11.] 

INDIAN  TRAITS  ;  being  Sketches 
of  the  Manners,  Customs,  and 
Character  of  the  North  American 
Natives.  By  B.  B.  Thatcher.  2 
vols.  18mo.  Engravings.  [Boys' 
and  Girls'  Library,  Nos.  7  and  8.] 

ALGIC  RESEARCHES;  compri- 
sing Inquiries  respecting  the  Men- 
tal Characteristics  of  the  North 
American  Indians.  First  Series  : 
Indian  Tales  and  Legends.  By 
H.  R.  Schoolcraft.   2  vols.  12mo. 

POPULAR  TECHNOLOGY  ;  or, 
Professions  and  Trades.  By  Ed- 
ward Hazen.  2  vols.  18mo.  Illus- 
trated by  81  Engravings.  [Family 
Library,  Nos.  149  and  150.] 

LETTERS  TO  ADA.  By  Rev.  C. 
C.  Pise,  D.D.  18mo. 

MAJOR  DOWNING'S  LETTERS. 
— Letters  of  J.  Downing,  Major, 
Downingville  Militia,  2d  Brigade, 
to  his  old  Friend  Mr.  Dwight,  of 
the  N.  Y.  Daily  Advertiser.  18mo. 
Engravings. 

THE  COOK'S  ORACLE  and 
Housekeeper's  Manual.  Contain- 
ing Receipts  for  Cookery,  and  Di- 
rections for  Carving.  With  a  com- 
plete System  of  Cookery  for  Cath- 
olic Families.  By  William  Kitch- 
iner,  M.D.  12mo. 

ZION'S  SONGSTER.  Compiled 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Mason.  32mo. 


MODERN  AMERICAN  COOK- 
ERY. With  a  List  of  Family 
Medical  Receipts,  and  a  valuable 
Miscellany.  By  Miss  Prudence 
Smith,  ltimo. 

VERPLANCK'S  ADDRESSES.— 
Discourses  and  Addresses  on  Sub- 
jects of  American  History,  Arts, 
and  Litorature.  By  Gulian  C. 
Verplanck,  LL.D.  12mo. 

HOW  TO  OBSERVE.  Morals  and 
Manners.  By  Harriet  Manineau. 
12mo. 


Now  comprising  153  vols.  18mo. 

Nos.  1.  2,  3. — Milman's  History  of 

the  Jews. 
4,  5. — Lockhart's  Life  of  Napoleon 

Bonaparte. 

6.  — Southey's  Life  of  Nelson. 

7.  — Williams's  Life  of  Alexander  the 
Great. 

8.  74. — Natnral  History  of  Insects. 
9  —  Gait's  Life  of  Byron. 

10.  — Bush's  Life  of  Mohammed. 

11.  — Scott's  Letters  on  Demonology 
and  Witchcraft. 

12, 13.— Gleig's  History  of  the  Bible. 

14.  — Discover}'  and  Adventure  in  the 
Polar  Seas  and  Regions.  By  Les- 
lie, Jameson,  and  Murray. 

15.  — Croly's  Life  of  George  IV. 

16.  — Discovery  and  Adventure  in 
Africa.  By  Jameson,  Wilson,  and 
Murray. 

17.  18,  19,  66,  67.— Cunningham's 
Lives  of  Painters  and  Sculptors. 

20.  — James's  History  of  Chivalry 
and  the  Crusades. 

21,  22.— Bell's  Life  of  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots. 

23.  — Russell's  History  of  Egypt. 

24.  — Fletcher's  History  of  Poland. 

25.  — Festivals,  Games,  and  Amuse- 
ments.   By  Horatio  Smith. 

26.  — Brewster's  Life  of  Sir  Isaac 
Newton. 

27.  — Russell's  History  of  Palestine. 

28.  — Memes's  Memoirs  of  the  Em- 
press Josephine. 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  MANOR. 
By  Mrs.  Sherwood.  4  vols.  12mo. 
Engravings. 
NO  FICTION  :  a  Narrative  found- 
ed on  Recent  and  Interesting 
Facts.  By  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Reed,  D.D.  12mo. 
MARTHA  :  a  Memorial  of  an  only 
and  beloved  Sister.  By  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Reed,  D.D.  12mo. 
THE  SWISS  FAMILY  ROBIN- 
SON ;  or,  Adventures  of  a  Father 
and  Mother  and  Four  Sons  on  a 
Desert  Island.  The  Progress  of 
the  Story  forming  a  clear  Illustra- 
tion of  the  first  Principles  of  Nat- 
ural History,  and  many  Branches 
of  Science  which  most,  immediate- 
ly apply  to  the  Business  of  Life. 
2  vols.  18ino.  Engravings.  [Boys' 
and  Girls'  Library,  Nos.  2  and  3.] 
THE  SON  OF  A  GENIUS.  By 
Mrs.  Hofland.  18mo.  Engra- 
vings. [Boys'  and  Girls'  Library, 
No.  5.] 

THE  YOUNG  CRUSOE  ;  or,  the 
Shipwrecked  Boy.  Containing  an 
Account  of  his  Shipwreck,  and 
of  his  Residence  alone  upon  an 
Uninhabited  Island.  By  Mrs. 
Hofland.  18mo.  Engravings. 
[Boys'  and  Girls'  Libraiy,  No.  12.'] 

FAMILY  LIBRARY. 

Abundantly  illustrated  by  Maps,  Portraits, 
but  each  work  sold  separately. 

29.  — The  Court  and  Camp  of  Bona- 
parte. 

30.  — Lives  and  Voyages  of  Drake, 
Cavendish,  and  Dampier. 

31.  — Barrow's  Description  of  Pit- 
cairn's  Island,  and  Account  of  the 
Mutiny  of  the  Ship  Bounty. 

32, 72,  84.— Turner's  Sacred  History 

of  the  World. 
33,  34. — Mrs.  Jameson's  Memoirs  of 

Female  Sovereigns. 
35, 36.— The  Landers'  Travels  in  Af- 
rica, and  Discovery  of  the  Source 
and  Termination  of  the  Niger. 

37.  — Abercrombie  on  the  Intellectu- 
al Powers. 

38,  39,  40.— St.  John's  Lives  of  Cel- 
ebrated Travellers. 

41,  42.— Lord  Dover's  Life  of  Fred- 
eric the  Great. 
43,  44. — Smedley's  Sketches  from 

Venetian  History. 
45,  46. — Thatcher's  Lives  of  the  In- 
dians. 

47,  48,  49.— Account  of  British  In- 
dia. By  Murray,  Wilson,  Gre- 
ville,  Ainslie,  Rhind,  Jameson, 
Wallace,  and  Dalrymple. 

50.  — Brewster's  Letters  on  Natural 
Magic. 

51,  52.  — Taylor's  History  of  Ire- 
land. 

53. — Discovery  on  ths  more  North- 
ern Coasts  of  America.  By  P.  F. 
Tytler. 


THE  CLERGYMAN'S  ORPHAN, 
and  other  Tales.  By  a  Clergy 
man.  18mo.  Engravings.  [Boys' 
and  Girls'  Library,  No.  17.] 

THE  ORNAMENTS  DISCOVER 
ED.  By  Mrs.  Hughs.  18mo.  En- 
gravings. [Boys'  and  Girls'  Li 
brary,  No.  19.] 

RECOLLECTIONS  of  a  HOUSE 
KEEPER.  By  Mrs.  C.  Gilman 
18mo. 

RECOLLECTIONS  of  a  SOUTH- 
ERN MATRON.  By  Mrs.  C. 
Gilman.  12mo. 

LOVE'S  PROGRESS.  By  Mrs.  C. 
Gilman.  12mo. 

DIARY  OF  A  PHYSICIAN.  By 
Samuel  Warren.  Complete.  3 
vols.  18mo. 

GEORGIA  SCENES.  New  Edi- 
tion. Original  Illustrations.  12mo. 

THE  SPECTATOR,  in  Miniature. 
— Selections  from  the  Spectator. 
Embracing  the  most  interesting 
Papers  by  Addison,  Steele,  and 
others.   2  vols.  18mo. 

SCENES  IN  OUR  PARISH.  By 
a  "  Country  Parson's"  Daughter 
12mo. 

THE  PHILOSOPHICAL  EMPER- 
OR :  a  Political  Experiment ;  6rT 
the  Progress  of  a  False  Position. 
Dedicated  to  the  Whigs,  Conserv- 
atives, Democrats,  and  Loco-Fo- 
cos,  individually  and  collectively,, 
of  the  United  States.  18mo. 

THE  NOTE-BOOK  of  a  COUN- 
TRY CLERGYMAN.  18mo. 

THE  MECHANIC.  By  Rev.  C. 
B.  Tayler.  18mo. 

CONSTANCE  LATIMER;  or7 
the  Blind  Girl.  With  other  Sto- 
ries. By  Mrs.  Emma  C.  Emburv 
18mo. 


and  Engravings.   Bound  uniformly, 

54.  — Humboldt's  Travels  and  Re- 
searches.   By  Macgillivray. 

55,  56. — Euler's  Letters  on  Natural 
Philosophy.  Edited  by  Brewster 
and  Griscom. 

57.  — Mudie's  Popular  Guide  to  the 
Observation  of  Nature. 

58.  — Abercrombie's  Philosophy  of  the 
Moral  Feelings. 

59.  — Dick  on  the  Improvement  of 
Society  by  the  Diffusion  of  .Knowl- 
edge. 

60.  — James's  History  of  Charle- 
magne. 

61 .  — Russell's  History  of  Nubia  and 
Abyssinia. 

62.  63— Russell's  Life  of  Oliver 
Cromwell. 

64.  — Montgomery's  Lectures  on  Po- 
etry, General  Literature,  &c. 

65.  --Barrow's  Life  of  Peter  the  Great. 
66, 67. — Lives  of  Painters  and  Sculp- 
tors, Vols.  IV.  and  V. 

68,  69. — Crichton's  History  of  Ara- 
bia. 

70.  — Fraser's  History  of  Persia. 

71.  — Combe  on  the  Principles  of 
Physiology  applied  to  the  Preser- 
vation of  Health,  &c. 

72.  — Turner's  Sacred  History  of  the 
World,  Vol.  II. 

73.  — Russell's  History  pf  the  Bar- 
bary  States. 

74.  — Natural  History  of  Insects? 
Vol.  II. 


14 


Classical  Library. — School  District  Library. 


75,  76.— Paulding's  Life  of  Wash- 
ington. 

77.  — Ticknor's  Philosophy  of  Living. 

78.  —  Physical  Condition  of  the 
Earth,  and  its  most  remarkable 
Phenomena.    By  Higgins. 

79.  — History  of  Italy  :  translated 
bv  Greene. 

80.  81.— The  Chinese.    By  Davis. 

82.  *-History  of  the  Circumnaviga- 
tion of  the  Globe. 

83.  — Dick's  Celestial  Scenery. 

84.  — Turner's  Sacred  History  of  the 
World,  Vol.  III. 

65. — Gnscom's  Animal  Mechanism 
and  Physiology. 

86,  87,  88,  89,  90,  91.— Tytler's  His- 
tory :  continued  by  Dr.  Nares. 

92,  93.— Life  of  Franklin,  by  Him- 
self ;  and  a  Selection  from  his 
Writings. 

94,  95. — Pursuit  of  Knowledge  un- 
der Difficulties. 

96,  97.— Paley's  Natural  Theology : 
edited  by  Lord  Brougham,  Sir 
Charles  Bell,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Potter. 

98.  — Natural  History  of  Birds. 

99.  — Dick  8  Sidereal  Heavens. 

100.  — Upham  on  Imperfect  and  Dis- 
ordered Mental  Action. 

101.  102.— Murray's  History  of  Brit- 
ish America. 

103.— Lossing's  History  of  the  Fine 
Arts. 


104.  — Natural  History  of  Quadru- 
peds. 

105.  — Life  and  Travels  of  Mungo 
Park. 

106.  — Dana's  Two  Years  before  the 
Mast. 

107.  108. — Parry's  Four  Voyages  for 
the  Discovery  of  a  Northwest  Pas- 
sage. 

109,  110.— Life  of  Doctor  Johnson; 
with  a  Selection  from  his  Works. 

111.  — Bryant's  Selection  from  Amer- 
ican Poets. 

112,  113.— Halleck's  Selection  from 
British  Poets. 

114,  115, 116, 117, 118.— Keightley's 
History  of  England. 

119,  120.— Hale's  History  of  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

121,  122.— Irving's  Life  of  Gold- 
smith, and  Selection  from  his  Wri- 
tings. 

123,  124.— Distinguished  Men  of 
Modern  Times. 

125.  — Renwick's  Life  of  De  Witt 
Clinton. 

126,  127. — Mackenzie's  Life  of  Com- 
modore Perry. 

129.— Life  and  Travels  of  Bruce :  by 
Sir  Francis  B.  Head. 

129.  — Renwick's  Lives  of  John  Jay 
and  Alexander  Hamilton. 

130.  — Brewster's  Lives  of  Galileo, 
Tycho  Brahe,  and  Kepler. 


131.  — History  of  Iceland,  Greenland, 
and  the  Faroe  Islands. 

132.  — Manners  and  Customs  of  the 
Japanese. 

133.  — Dwight's  History  of  Connec- 
ticut. 

134.  135.— Ruins  of  Ancient  Cities: 
by  Charles  Bucke. 

136, 137.— History  of  Denmark,  Nor- 
way, and  Sweden  :  by  Crichton 
and  Wheaton. 

138.  — Camp  on  Democracy. 

139.  — Lanman's  History  of  Michigan. 

140.  — Fenelon's  Lives  of  the  Ancient 
Philosophers. 

141.  142.— Count  Segur's  History  of 
Napoleon's  Expedition  to  Russia. 

143,  144.— History  of  Philosophy: 
translated,  continued,  and  edited 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Henry. 

145.  — Bucke's  Beauties,  Harmonics, 
and  Sublimities  of  Nature. 

146.  — Lieber's  Essays  on  Property 
and  Labour,  as  connected  with 
Natural  Law  and  the  Constitution 
of  Society. 

147.  — White's  Natural  History  of 
Selborne. 

148.  — Wrangell's  Expedition  to  Si- 
beria and  the  Polar  Sea. 

149, 150.—  Popular  Technology  ;  or, 
Professions  and  Trades :  by  Hazen. 

151,  152,  153— Italy  and  the  Italian 
Islands. 


CLASSICAL  LIBRARY. 

Now  comprising  36  vols.  18mo,  embellished  with  Portraits.    Bound  uniformly,  but  each  work  sold  separately 


Nos.  1,  2. — Xenophon  :  translated 

by  Spelman  and  Cooper. 
3,  4. — Leland's  Demosthenes. 

5.  — Rose's  Sallust. 

6,  7. — Duncan's  Csesar. 

8,9,10. — Cicero:  translated  by  Dun- 
can, Cockman,  and  Melmoth. 

11, 12. — Virgil:  translated  by  Wrang- 
ham,  Sotheby,  and  Dry  den. 


13.  — Potter's  ^Eschylus. 

14.  — Francklin's  Sophocles. 

15.  16,  17.— Potter's  Euripides. 

18,  19. — Horace,  translated  by  Fran- 
cis and  others :  and  Phaedrus, 
translated  by  Smart. 

20,  21.— Ovid:  translated  by  Dry- 
den,  Pope,  Addison,  and  others. 

22,  23.— Smith's  Thucydides. 


24,  25,  26,  27,  28.— Baker's  Livy. 
29,  30,  31.— Beloe's  Herodotus. 
32,  33,  34.— Pope's  Homer. 

35.  — Juvenal,  translated  by  Badham : 
and  Persius,  by  Drummond. 

36.  — Pindar,  translated  by  Wheel- 
wright :  and  Anacreon,  translated 
by  Bourne. 


SCHOOL  DISTRICT  LIBRARY. 


.  18mo  :  abundantly  illustrated  by  Maps,  Portraits,  and  other  Engraving!* 
.   Each  series,  if  desired,  enclosed  in  a  neat  case,  with  lock  and  key. 


Comprising  four  Series,  or  195  vols, 
Strongly  and  uniformly  bound 


Nos.  1,  2.  Paulding's  Washington. 

3.  The  Poor  Rich  Man  and  the  Rich 
Poor  Man :  by  Miss  Sedgwick. 

4,  5.  The  Swiss  Family  Robinson. 
6,  7.  Natural  History  of  Insects. 

8.  The  Son  of  a  Genius  :  by  Mrs. 
Hofland. 

9,  10,  11.  American  History :  by  the 
Author  of  M  Popular  Lessons." 

12.  Thatcher's  American  Revolution. 

13,  14.  Life  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 

15.  Combe's  Physiology,  Health,  &c. 

16,  17.  Thatcher's  Indian  Traits, 
Mariners,  Customs,  &c. 

18.  Discovery  and  Adventure  in  Af- 
rica :  by  Jameson,  Wilson,  and 
Murray. 

19.  Uncle  Philip's  Conversations 
about  the  Trees  of  America. 

20.  Mudie's  Popular  Guide  to  the 
Observation  of  Nature. 


51,  52.  Life  of  Franklin,  by  Him- 
self :  and  a  Selection  from  his 
Works. 

53,  54.  The  Farmer's  Instructer  :  by 

Judge  Buel. 
55,  56.  Pursuit  of  Knowledge  under 

Difficulties  :   its  Pleasures  and 

Rewards. 
57.  Griscom's  Animal  Mechanism 

and  Physiology 


FIRST  SERIES. 

21.  Perils  of  the  Sea. 

22.  Abercrombie's  Inquiries  concern- 
ing the  Intellectual  Powers. 

23.  Montgomery's  Lectures  on  Gen- 
eral Literature,  Poetry,  &c. 

24.  Dick's  Celestial  Scenery. 

25.  Russell's  History  of  Palestine. 

26.  James's  History  of  Chivalry  and 
the  Crusades. 

27.  Brewster's  Life  of  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton. 

28.  Live  and  let  Live  :  by  Miss  Sedg- 
wick. 

29, 30.  The  Chinese  :  by  J.  F.  Davis. 

31.  Circumnavigation  of  the  Globe. 

32.  Life  of  Alexander  the  Great. 

33.  34.  Euler's  Letters  on  Natural 
Philosophy :  edited  by  Brewster 
and  Griscom. 

35.  Barrow's  Life  of  Peter  the  Great. 
36, 37.  Russell's  Life  of  Cromwell. 

SECOND  SERIES. 

58.  The  Elephant,  as  he  exists  in  a 
Wild  State,  and  as  made  subserv- 
ient to  the  Purposes  of  Man. 

59.  Vegetable  Substances  used  for 
the  Food  of  Man . 

60.  61,  62,  63,  64,  65.  Tytler's  Uni- 
versal History  :  continued  by  Dr. 
Nares. 

66.  Moseley's  Illustrations  of  Me- 
chanics :  edited  by  Renwick. 


38.  Dick  on  the  Improvement  of  So- 
ciety. 

39.  Physical  Condition  of  the  Earth : 
by  Higgins. 

40.  Abercrombie's  Philosophy  of  the 
Moral  Feelings. 

41.  42.  Mrs.  Jameson's  Memoirs  of 
Female  Sovereigns. 

43.  Uncle  Philip's  History  of  Vir> 
ginia. 

44.  The  Ornaments  discovered  :  by 
Mrs.  Hughs. 

45.  Uncle  Philip's  Conversations 
about  Tools  and  Trades  among 
the  Inferior  Animals. 

46.  47.  Uncle  Philip's  Account  of 
the  Whale-Fishery  and  the  Polar 
Seas. 

48.  Lives  and  Voyages  of  Drake, 
Cavendish,  and  Dampier. 

49,  50.  Dunlap's  New-York. 


67.  Polar  Seas  and  Regions. 

68,  69.  Paley's  Natural  Theology  : 
edited  by  Lord  Brougham,  Sir 
Charles  Bell,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Potter. 

70-79.  Sparks's  American  Biogra- 
phy, viz. : 

70.  Lives  of  Gen.  Stark,  by  Everett 
— Chas.  Brockden  Brown,  by  Pres- 
cott — Gen.  Montgomery,  by  Arm- 
strong—Col. Allen,  by  "Spark*. 


School  District  Library.  15 


71.  Lives  of  Alex.  Wilson,  by  Pea- 
body — Capt.  J.  Smith,  by  Hilliard. 

72.  Life  and  Treason  of  Arnold. 

73.  Lives  of  Gen.  Wayne,  by  Arm- 
strong— Sir  H.  Vane,  by  Upham. 

74.  Francis's  Life  of  John  Eliot,  the 
Apostle  to  the  Indians. 

75.  Lives  of  Pinkney,  by  Wheaton — 
Ellery,  by  E.  T.  Channing— Cot- 
ton Mather,  by  Peabody. 

76.  Lives  of  Sir  William  Phips,  by 
Bowen — General  Putnam,  by  Pea- 
body — Lucretia  M.  Davidson,  by 
Miss  Sedgwick  —  David  Ritten- 
house,  by  Renwick. 

77.  Lives  of  Jonathan  Edwards,  by 
Miller — Brainerd,  by  Peabody. 

96,  97.  Hale's  United  States :  writ- 
ten expressly  for  this  Library. 

98.  Letters  on  Natural  Magic. 

99.  Renwick's  Applications  of  Me- 
chanics to  Practical  Purposes. 

100.  101.  Parry's  Voyages  for  the 
Discovery  of  a  N.W.  Passage  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

102,  103,  104,  105,  106.  Keightloy's 
History  of  England. 

107,  108.  Mackenzie's  Life  of  Com- 
modore Perry. 

109,  110.  Irving's  Life  of  Goldsmith, 
and  Selections  from  his  Writings. 

Ill,  112.  Murray's  Account  of  Brit- 
ish America. 

113.  Upham  on  Imperfect  and  Disor- 
dered Mental  Action. 

114.  Bryant's  Selections  from  Amer- 
ican Poets. 


146,  147,  148.  Belknap's  American 
Biography  ;  with  Additions,  &c, 
by  F.  M.  Hubbard,  Esq. 

149.  Manners  and  Customs  of  the 
Japanese. 

150,  151.  Count  Segur's  History  of 
Napoleon's  Expedition  to  Russia. 

152.  Brewster's  Lives  of  Galileo, 
Kepler,  and  Tycho  Brahe. 

153,  154.  American  Adventure  by 
Land  and  Sea :  being  remarkable 
Instances  of  Enterprise  and  For- 
titude among  Americans  —  Cap- 
tures, Shipwrecks,  &c. 

155.  History  of  Iceland,  Greenland, 
and  the  Faroe  Islands. 

156.  Fenelon's  Lives  of  the  Ancient 
Philosophers. 

157.  History  of  the  Fine  Arts. 

158.  Perilous  Adventures  ;  remarka- 
ble Instances  of  Courage,  Perseve- 
rance, and  Suffering. 

159.  Lanman's  History  of  Michigan. 
160, 161.  Ruins  of  Ancient  Cities,  &c. 

THE 


MISS  EDGEWORTH'S  TALES 
AND  NOVELS.  10  vols.  12mo. 
Engravings.  [Sold  separately  or 
in  Sets.] 

FIELDING  and  SMOLLETT. 

12mo.  Edited  by  Thomas  Roscoe : 

Illustrations  by  Cruikshank. 

History  of  Tom  Jones :  by  Field- 
ing.   2  vols. 

History  of  Amelia :  by  Fielding. 

Expedition  of  Humphry  Clinker: 
by  Smollett. 

Adventures  of  Roderick  Random  : 
by  Smollett. 

Adventures  of  Gil  Bias  :  by  Le 
Sage :  translated  by  Smollett. 
2  vols 


78.  Lives  of  Baron  Steuben,  by  Bow- 
en — Sebastian  Cabot,  by  Hayward 
— General  Eaton,  by  Felton. 

79.  Lives  of  Fulton,  by  Renwick  — 
Hudson,  by  Cleveland  —  Gener- 
al Warren,  by  Everett — Father 
Marquette,  by  Sparks. 

80.  Humboldt's  Travels  and  Re- 
searches :  by  Macgillivray. 

81.  Goldsmith's  History  of  Greece  : 
edited  by  Miss  Robbins. 

82.  Natural  History  of  Birds. 

83.  Familiar  Illustrations  of  Natural 
Philosophy  :  edited  by  Renwick. 

84.  85.  Selections  from  the  Specta- 
tor :  embracing  the  most  interest- 
ing Papers,  by  Addiaon  and  others. 

THIRD  SERIES 

115,  116.  Halleck's  Selections  from 
British  Poets. 

117.  History  of  the  Moors  in  Spain. 

118,  119.  Distinguished  Men  of  Mod- 
ern Times. 

120.  Nott's  Counsels  to  Young  Men. 

121.  Life  and  Travels  of  Bruce. 

122.  123.  Life  of  Dr.  Johnson,  with 
a  Selection  from  his  Works. 

124.  Political  Economy — its  Objects 
and  Principles :  by  Dr.  Potter. 

125.  Life  and  Travels  of  Mungo  Park. 

126.  The  Pleasures  and  Advantages 
of  Science :  by  Lord  Brougham, 
Prof.  Sedgwick,  G.  C.  Verplanck, 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Potter. 

127.  Two  Years  before  the  Mast ;  or, 
Life  at  Sea  :  by  Dana. 

128.  Uncle  Philip's  History  of  the 
Lost  Colony  of  Greenland. 

FOURTH  SERIES. 

162.  Liebcr  on  Property  and  Labour, 
as  connected  with  Natural  Law 
and  the  Constitution  of  Society. 

163.  Bucke  on  the  Beauties,  Harmo- 
nies, and  Sublimities  of  Nature. 

164.  165.  History  of  Denmark,  Swe- 
den, and  Norway :  by  Crichton 
and  Wheaton. 

166.  Natural  History  of  Selborne  : 
by  White. 

167.  Wrangell's  Expedition  to  Sibe- 
ria and  the  Polar  Sea. 

168, 169.  Lives  of  the  Indians. 

170.  Essays,  Moral,  Economical,  and 
Political :  by  Bacon.  With  The 
Conduct  of  the  Understanding : 
by  Locke.    Edited  by  Dr.  Potter. 

171,  172.  The  Landers'  Travels  in 
Africa. 

173.  Memes's  Memoirs  of  Josephine. 

174,  175.  History  of  Philosophy  : 
translated,  continued,  and  edited 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Henry. 

176.  James's  History  of  Charlemagne. 


FICTION. 

JAMES'S  NOVELS,  &c.  12mo. 
Richelieu :  a  Tale  of  France. 
Darnley ;  or,  the  Field  of  the 

Cloth  of  Gold.    2  vols. 
De  L'Orme.    2  vols. 
Philip  Augustus ;  or,  the  Brothers 

in  Arms.    2  vols. 
Henry  Masterton  ;  or,  the  Young 

Cavalier.    2  vols. 
Mary  of  Burgundy  ;  or,  the  Revolt 

of  Ghent.    2  vols. 
John  Marston  Hall.    2  vols. 
The  Gipsy. 

One  in  a  Thousand  ;  or,  the  Days 

of  Henry  Quatre. 
The  Desultory  Man.    2  vols. 
•  ♦til*,  -aw. 


86.  Lee's  Elements  of  Geology,  for 
Popular  Use. 

87.  Goldsmith's  History  of  Rome  : 
edited  by  Herbert. 

88.  Armstrong's  Treatise  on  Agri- 
culture :  edited  by  Judge  Buel. 

89.  The  Natural  History  of  Quadru- 
peds. 

90.  Chaptal's  Chemistry  applied  to 
Agriculture.  A  new  Translation, 
with  valuable  Selections  from  Sir. 
Humphrey  Davy  and  others. 

91.  Dwight's  Lives  of  the  Signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

92.  93,  94,  95.  Plutarch's  Lives: 
translated,  and  with  Notes,  by  the 
Langhornes. 


129,130.  American  Husbandry:  by 
Willis  Gaylord  and  Luther  Tucker. 

131,  132.  Uncle  Philip's  History  of 
Massachusetts. 

133,  134.  Uncle  Philip's  History  of 
New-Hampshire. 

135.  Dick's  Sidereal  Heavens  and 
other  Objects  connected  with  As- 
tronomy. 

136.  First  Principles  of  Chemistry  : 
by  Renwick. 

137.  History  of  the  Barbary  States. 

138.  The  Family  Instructer :  aMan- 
ual  of  the  Duties,  &c,  of  Domes- 
tic Life. 

139.  History  of  Connecticut. 

140.  Stories  for  Young  Persons  :  by 
Miss  Sedgwick. 

141.  142,  143.  History  of  France. 
144, 145.  Scott's  History  of  Scotland. 


177,  178.  Popular  Technology ,  or, 
Professions  and  Trades. 

179.  Scott's  Letters  on  Demonology 
and  Witchcraft. 

180.  Bunner's  History  of  Louisiana. 

181.  Court  and  Camp  of  Bonaparte. 

182.  Fletcher's  History  of  Poland. 

183.  Maury's  Principles  of  Elo- 
quence :  edited  by  Rev.  Dr.  Potter. 

184.  Woman  in  America  ;  her  Mor- 
al and  Intellectual  Condition :  by 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Graves. 

185.  Russell's  Nubia  and  Abyssinia. 

186.  Description  of  Pitcairn's  Island, 
Mutiny  of  the  Bounty,  &c. 

187.  Fraser's  History  of  Persia. 

188.  Xenophon's  Cyropaedia  ;  or,  In- 
stitution of  Cyrus  :  translated  by 
Cooper. 

189.  Sismondi's  History  of  the  Ital- 
ian Republics. 

190.  History  of  Switzerland. 

191.  192,  193,  194,  195.  Dunham'0 
History  of  Spain  and  Portugal. 


The  Robber.   2  vols. 

The  Huguenot ;  a  Tale  of  the 

French  Protestants.    2  vols. 
Charles  Tyrrell;  or,  the  Bitter 

Blood.    2  vols. 
The  Gentleman  of  the  Old  School. 
Henry  of  Guise  ;  or,  the  States 

of  Blois.    2  vols. 
The  King's  Highway.    2  vols. 
The  Man  at  Arms  ;  or,  Henry  de 

Cerons.    2  vols. 
Corse  de  Leon  ;  or,  the  Brigand, 
The  Ancient  Regime.  2"vols. 
The  Jacquerie.    2  vols. 
The  above,  bound  in  42  volumes. 
The  String  of  Pearls. 
Blanche  of  Navarre. 


FIFTH   SERIES  IS  IN  PREPARATION. 


DATE  DUE 


DEMCO  38-297 

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